Great Western Coffee Shop

It seems like ages since I used to frequent the coffee shop on my journey from Thatcham into London but a quick search of my posts revealed that the last real activity (ignoring 3 in 2018) was in 2017.

So as the title says what have I missed? I guess "Reading Station Improvements" has probably settled down now and I seem to remember long discussions about the "half platform signalling" used by the cross country sets.

I do realise that technically I am a foreigner now as I have moved out of the FGW/GWR region into a town that used to have a railway but not longer has.It does have an old prison (now a museum) and a University. In the middle of July the prices of even the cheapest hotel goes through the roof and it gets veru noisy nearby.

Does this sound like the beginning of a "where do I live now?" competiion? Oh go on then...just for fun.

I suspect this may be too easy but if there is any take up I will let it run for a while.

Take care everyone!

Buckingham?

(And welcome back!)

Seconded and it's good to see you.

Good to see you back, visiting us and posting. Here's my own list of what has happened since the start of 2018.

On GWR rails
* End of HSTs as we knew them
* Electric turned on much further
* Cascade of Turbos
* Engineering and staffing unreliability

On TransWilts
* Longer trains
* Longer platforms
* Shocking cancellation rates knocking us back
* Lots of promotion by the Melksham Rail User Group

On the forum
* Coffee Shop constitution, first AGM and CCIF
* Meet the Managing Director (and another is coming up)
* ACoRP - a 3rd last year, and a shortlist and a second this year
* Not really "happened" - steady as she goes with huge thanks to all

Personally
* Left TransWilts board and CRO position (now just a member)
* Lost Gyp
* Move from our home to what was our hotel
* Slowing down a bit and took holiday of a lifetime

I second third Buckingham.

Used to live there too, aged 17-18. Well, in nearby Maids Moreton first, then Lillingstone Daryll where the July noise was just up the farm track behind our house. I returned to Somerset a few months after my 18th, but Mum and brother stayed on for a couple of years, living in Nelson St in the town.

Used to go fishing in the Great Ouse behind the University.

Oh, and welcome back. You're not too far from 'GWR land'. I used to railhead at Banbury when I lived in Buckingham. Of course when I lived there it was still British Rail. Also used to railhead at Bicester Town.

Welcome "back" BB

The hum of electric traction motors rather than the grumble of diesel is the order of the day at Thatcham these days. There are still a few turbos, but very few now.

Whatever time of day I am travelling I nearly always get a seat now.

The Electrostar's and IET's are very quick between stations, so it's not unusual for trains to "dwell" for a few minutes at stops, to let the timetable catch up. That will change in mid-December I guess.

Nice part of the world around Buckingham. I'm a bit familiar as my sister lives in Adstock and used to live in Nash.

What does "to railhead" mean? I've seen the term before and its puzzled me? 🤔

I was beginning to get offended that no-one had welcomed me back and then thought about looking in my spam folder and there you all were!

Yes, Buckingham. I left Thatcham in about August 2018 although still go down there to see the kids. I have seen the SNT's (Shiny new trains) pass through but I have never been on one from Newbury/Thatcham although have caught many from Reading.

My daily commute (when I am working in London) has changed.

In my Thatcham days I would catch the bus to Reading station (I got fed up with the walk to the station as it always seemed to chuck it down when I needed to do it) and then mainline into London. So probably door to office door about 2 hours - maybe a bit more.

So now I drive to Milton Keynes Central (MKC) which takes about 15 minutes and if I catch a Pendilino (sp?) I can be in London in a further 35 just in time to do battle with the northern line. We do have a good choices of services from MKC and apart from when there are very high winds or major signalling problems the service is pretty good. The good thing about my journey from home in Buckingham to MKC it is so simple. Off the estate, onto the A422 and in about 17 minutes I'm parked up at the station.

I can't remember what a weekly travel card was from Thatcham but from MKC it costs about £159

Coming back to MKC in the evening it's always a challenge getting a seat on the services but that's the nature of the commute. It's often a decision between getting a later, slower train with a seat or a non-stop and standing like I did last night. As I'm sure a lot of you know Euston is underdoing changes at the moment as they have started on the work to be HS2 compatible and there have been some ground works in the Buckingham area.


I like Buckingham - the only problem is that unless you want a coffee or a take out (sounds a bit like Thatcham!) there isn't much else there but there is a very good community spirit. Unlike a like alot of all towns you will have all head of our MP (Mr John Bercow)

I think the price of housing here reflects the fact there aren't any major employers in the town (I'm guessing the University is the single biggest employer) and also no rail links. There are plans to open an east-west link which I believe will pass through Winslow which isn't far from here.

Hardly suprisingly there isn't alot left of the railway in town. Over the weekend we went for a walk along the trackbed which the local council have turned into a walk way. The only clue it was ever a railway is probably the straightness of the path and the few red brick bridges that are left.


So anyway enough of my ramblings...it's always good to catch up!

BB

What is really interesting about the replies you lot have posted is that I have connections with quite a few of the places mentioned.

I worked in Banbury (on the old Alcan Extrusions site) and lived in a small village south of the town called Adderbury. I am old enough to remember steam trains running through the village on the Banbury to Cheltanham line!

As far as I know "Bicester Town" is now "Bicester North" and of course it's now possible to get from Bicester Village to Marylebone on the "new" route.

I know Adstock very well! It would be very ironic if your Sister was called Helen and she lived in a georgian house as we had our wedding reception there back in September.

In all my other replies to my OP I've added some train content but have failed referencing Adstock!

I think I passed through Melksham back in September when the wife and I took a post wedding break at a lodge in devizes and then went to a national trust property. I think the route back to the M4 took us through Melksham which - if my geography services me right - would be possible.

Holiday sounds interesting ...is there a trip report on the Forum?

BB

My sister isn't called Helen, but if the Helen you mention has a large property called "The Georgian Rectory" then she is a good friend of hers and I've met her and her hubby also. Small world!

Yes that's the place. They are a lovely couple and it is a lovely house and grounds

I think it means bussing or motoring to a train station.

or in English, "to catch a train at"....

Thanks Bob! I'll bear that in mind next time I runwayhead at Heathrow! 😉

Or 'to railhead' for brevity. :P

And yes, I used to bus it to Banbury or Bicester from Buckingham. And that's alliteration!

Airhead, surely?  :P ;) ;D

Yet another new term I have to learn !

In excruciating bloggy detail, I'm afraid!

Travelogue observations - 1st September 2019 - GWR and P&O - http://www.passenger.chat/22161
Travelogue observations - 3rd September 2019 - P&O - http://www.passenger.chat/22163
Travelogue observations - 4th September 2019 - People - http://www.passenger.chat/22167
Travelogue observations - 5th September 2019 - Inspired?? http://www.passenger.chat/22170
Travelogue observations - 7th September 2019 - Story of a Canadian Railway - http://www.passenger.chat/22176
Travelogue observations - 8th September 2019 - Excursion -  - http://www.passenger.chat/22179
Travelogue observations - 9th September 2019 - comparison of scale.  - http://www.passenger.chat/22183
Travelogue observations - 10th September 2019 - My Crap Holiday Snaps - http://www.passenger.chat/22187
Travelogue observations - 11th September 2019 - What a difference an "A" made - http://www.passenger.chat/22193
Travelogue observations - 12th September 2019 - Sidney Leslie Godwin - http://www.passenger.chat/22196
Travelogue observations - 13th September 2019 - Rail and more, Halifax, NS - http://www.passenger.chat/22198
Travelogue observations - 15th September 2019 - making little of a city - http://www.passenger.chat/22202
Travelogue observations - 16th September 2019 - lessons from lifts - http://www.passenger.chat/22203
Travelogue observations - 17th September 2019 - switching - http://www.passenger.chat/22205
Travelogue observations - 20th September 2019 - on Penn Central, New York - http://www.passenger.chat/22215
Travelogue observations - 21st September 2019 - Express & local through the city - http://www.passenger.chat/22219
Travelogue observations - 23rd September 2019 - starting homewards - http://www.passenger.chat/22221
Travelogue observations - 25th September 2019 - Fair Weather Travel - http://www.passenger.chat/22228
Travelogue observations - 26th September 2019 - an eye in the sky. - http://www.passenger.chat/22229
Travelogue observations - 27th September 2019 - painting 42,000 words - http://www.passenger.chat/22232
Travelogue observations - 28th September 2019 - busy doing nothing - http://www.passenger.chat/22239
Travelogue observations - 29th September 2019 - people - http://www.passenger.chat/22241
Travelogue observations - 30th September 2019 - final full day on board - http://www.passenger.chat/22246

And while grahame was cruising the North Atlantic I was based at Coffee Shop Central, holding the fort and minding the dog. :)

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=22162.0

You can learn the intriguing story of how an Atlantic cruise led to the restoring of a cassette tape deck. 

This forum informs more than many others can only dream of!

Not 8 track then !

Coincidentally, mini discs were mentioned of Radio Bristol today. Whatever happened to them?

One of my favourite YouTube channels may provide an answer:

https://youtu.be/kU3BceoMuaA

Techmoan. Well worth a watch if you are interested in 'old' audio formats.

It's good to see that the coffee shop doesnt get distracted from the OP :)

Guilty as charged but it's good that you are back BB.  :)

Or possibly Betchington ,Boventry, and Bings Bollage Bainbridge !,🙂

It's King's Bollege, Bambridge. Mr Smoketoomuch's speech impediment was 'B' in place of 'C'. 'K' wasn't a problem. What a silly bunt Western Pathfinder.

(https://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/27395344872_713428c04f_b%201_zps1nbd9rrn.jpg)

Does this diversion lead to Dr Spooner and the Last Drain from Oxford?

I used to live in a shoebox in middle of t'road :)

Wow ! I did ask ! Is it available in hardback form ?

Bings was deliberately used in the above. Mac I wondered if it would be spotted and I'm not at all surprised that it was you !

The very thought of Watneys Red Barrel still makes me shiver...………..the sight of it almost had me running for the facilities...……...thank God the smell or taste can't be transmitted!  :(

The very thought of Watneys Red Barrel still makes me shiver...………..the sight of it almost had me running for the facilities...……...thank God the smell or taste can't be transmitted!  :(
[/quote]
Hey, hang on.Most of my underage imbibing was done courtesy of Red Barrel.
It didn't do me any harm (debatable by others of course). ???

Surprising or not, there are people in the craft beer movement who specialise in recreating the output of defunct brewers from various periods, and that includes Watneys, as the quality control manual for its production still exists as it was produced across five sites. Red Barrel started off as a premium bottled pale ale, but in keg form was progressively made fizzier in the 1960s and out of cheaper ingredients, the last version being just called Red. The brand name has also been revived but this harks back to earlier than the 'red' period.

The other thing that was disparaged about Watneys was their pubs that were increasingly redeveloped into a uniform house style with ugly red blocky signs.