Great Western Coffee Shop

In early 2009 I stumbled upon this wonderful forum unintentionally. The reason why I ended up here is lost in the mists of time... some random use of Google was probably involved!

My first post was in response to a (possibly) light-hearted idea that a loco-hauled service should be considered from Minehead to Paddington. Looking back at my posting history confirms this. However, I'd thought that I came here for fares information specific to the Severn Beach Line; turns out that wasn't the case and I went quiet for a few months, just reading stuff already posted, save for a rant about NXEC removing a lot of their restaurant services.

I only got seriously involved on the forum after an unsatisfactory response from FGW regarding Railcard discounts on the SVB Line - an issue that was eventually resolved thanks to a FGW staffer who is also a regular contributor here on the forum.

So, in the spirit of being a nosey ( ;D) old so-and-so, I'd be interested to hear other forum members' stories as to how they ended up here.

Over to you....

I stumbled on this site by typing First Great Western into goggle I was looking for their website to look up train times and saw this site.  I had recently returned to commuting into London by train in 2007 when I joined that smallish railway infrastructure I had a company car with my previous rail company employer, never did site easy with me using a car to do railway work as I had in all my previous career on the railways traveled by train.

So anyway as I said in 2007 I was enduring the excellent punctuality and reliability of FGW [sic]  ::) when I looked through this site I found that it obviously had the ear of some in FGW I found the comments here on the service provided by FGW balanced and not a rant as they still are also that the non railway members want to understand how the railways work and the willingness of railway professionals to share their knowledge.

Referred by a previous member who resides on the route of the 'trans wilts'  ;)

I think through First Late Western / I Hate First Great Western

I was googling this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBoRcBmLKyY&feature=search

At a time when the 2006 time table change made it random if I got into work at all let alone on time - lost my contract over that one......

I accidently stumbled accross it whilst looking for main FGW site. Like many no doubt I started out as a lurker but after seeing the friendly and informative nature I took the plunge and joined. It was one of the best/worst decisions I've made (Delete as applicable  :P ;D)

.... and I think I spotted one of grahame's photos of Melksham station accompanying that video.

It was through the I Hate First Great Western blog..I've come here to try and be helpful, in some cases I have been, others maybe not =P

lol ohh dear on: July 24, 2008, 11:42:54 AM my first post umm, well i would like to think that i have grown up at some point since then as some of my comments, rants have been well, cringeworthy to say the least and as for spelling and grammar.... well somethings just never change  ;D but i believe that i ended up here while researching the okehampton line  a place that i now volunteer (although, and i'm not sure if any other volunteer's use this forum  i have not been for some time due to personal circumstances changing somewhat). now i class myself and fairly internet dependent,the funny thing is and i'm sure that i am not alone in this respect, is that this forum has found itself embedded within my daily life and although i have many contacts online who i have known for years i can honestly say that i have never met such a group of friendly people that are willing to help anyone that comes along and although we have all had our disagreements on some topics i have never seen anything get out of hand, this is thanks to the decent people on here and graham and the mods who put in so much hard work it really is appreciated! thank you so much for providing this forum and helping me over the years as well as putting up with me  ;D

After all the fun I've had, as a member of this forum, over the past two and a half years, I'd almost forgotten why I joined in the first place. ::)

However, a look at my own first couple of posts, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1249.0 reminded me. ;D

Somehow, I remain as positive and hopeful now as I was then - and, to be fair, so much has already been achieved, in terms of improving reliability. On the other hand, my son no longer goes to swimming lessons.  ::)

Having progressed from 'newbie' to administrator on this forum in that time, I'd just like to add my personal thanks to all those members who have contributed so much to my enjoyment of this forum.

Chris.  :-[

I don't remember how I came across the forum, possibly when I read about the second FGW fare strike.  I was a "lurker" for at least 6 months - 1 year before posting anything, so my first posts won't really help.  Since then, I seem to have become an anorak when it comes to the fare system in our region.

I was pointed to it by Christian Wolmar to Lee Flectcher in my role at Taplow Rail User Group. Had the pleasure of meeting Lee at Taplow when he did one of his walk abouts.

Have kept an eye on it ever since posting on operational issues, timetables, new services and line reopening,  the mess fares are in.

Reopenings, first choice Bourne End Wycombe to give a North South rail link through Bucks connecting with the East West rail at Claydon.

Second choice Okehampton Tavistock Bere Alston.

Think proper tram trains (600V DC 25Kv AC) with street running through Bristol should be considered for Portishead Severn Beach and Thornbury services.

Not too keen on HS2 would rather see GWML an MML electrified with necessary in fill from Southern to Westbury Exeter Salisbury Reading Baingstoke, and Reigate Reading. Also favour loco hauled for through services with engine change at end of the wires. I cringe at the use of HST on the Leeds service because of the lack of 91s and Mark4.

My first post has me slagging off FGW (this was 2007 and in them days they deserved it)  and, bizarely, signing the praises of Northern and saying that FGW could be as good as them if they tried.

I think I found the forum thriough MTLS or I Hate First Great Western.  Incidentally, I found my "I Hate First Great Westen" badge a few days ago.  It was rusty and I threw it away. 

I have learnt alot since then (thanks everyone), but I am still frustrated with our Rail Network. 

The Internet brought me here!   ;D ;)

I was just about to join FGW, so wanted to see what views there were of the company back then (and you're all thinking "he still joined anyway?!"  ::)  ;D )  I also wanted to expand my knowledge of the FGW area and wider rail network and I always like a good forum atmosphere.  I typed "FGW forum" into Google and up this place popped... the rest is history  :D

A couple of nightmare journeys on the Cotswold line got me enraged. I think I found this website through various "I hate FGW" blogs or the Charlbury Commuter website. I can't remember.

I think, like many people hear, I have learnt a lot and changed my attitudes, I slagged FGW off a lot in the early days - but they did deserve it. I was unfair at times I think. Now the Cotswold Line is being partially redoubled and I understand a lot more about the railway, so I am try to make my posts more positive.

I've also used this website for info, as there is such a good range of people here.

Thanks to all the Admins/Moderators and Graham for keeping this site going! You all do a terrific job - our commutes would not be the same without it!

I am a train enthusiast  - but with a difference:  not so much worried about writing down individual train numbers but (and we all have our own idiosyncracies) I love talking about timetables, train deployment, fares.....more of a logician I suppose.  In real life I am a Primary School Deputy Headteacher so it takes me away from the world of education!!

Looking forward to meeting some of you face to face on Wednesday at Reading.

Just looked at this - I thought it was well after that I joined!

But it was the december 2006 time table change that caused me grief and a lost contract - I lost it end of Jan so I guess it was causing me issues then.

That was when I spent a couple of hours a night sitting in the sloe bat if I missed the 1822 waiting for the 2022 because the 1922 was a two car 165

If I remember correctly, I stumbled across the site three years ago while searching for information regarding the Penryn loop.  I've been visiting ever since, not because I have an awful lot to say but to read the informed and informative posts by many of the regular posters.

I'm a great believer in the largely (imo) untapped potential of the railways in the C21st and have a deep attachment to the railways of the south west in particular. While the last three years have seen significant improvements in many areas, including branch line services in Cwll and punctuality across the FGW region, it's frustrating that improvements to the Trans-Wilts service and reopenings to Portishead and Tavistock have not moved forward greatly due to changes in economic and/or political conditions. 
   
edit:
I'd also like to add that I have enormous respect for the front-line employees of the railway, which is the result of countless acts of kindness and consideration shown to me as a passenger over the years from BR days to the present, and enormous sympathy for them as they are so often caught in the firing line when problems arise that are most often the responsibility of those safely sitting behind a desk miles away.
 

i was introduced to the First Great Western Coffee shop by a regular poster here who most have you may know by the handle "thetrout". he is my best friend who is also a train enthusiast who has been teaching me stuff about trains on long train journeys which i find fascinating. i am learning new stuff about trains all the time thanks to thetrout :D

Hmm.  I, too, have enormous respect for thetrout's quite amazingly detailed knowledge, about trains and buses!  :)

What amazes me about thetrout is I can randomly point at a train from a far distance and say what train is that, and he'll actually be able to answer. I haven't yet been able to trip him up :)

Ah ... now that's inspired me to post up a few pictures for the most expert of our members here to try and recognise.   Note on the simple stuff like pictures of Melksham or Taunton  ;D

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=9669.0

 I seem to remember that a 3 hour journey from Totnes to Paignton, a few years ago caused me
 to stumble across the coffee shop.
 I needed someone who would listen as I ''threw my toys out of the pram''.

  Sometimes it's interesting to read what fellow Mb's find 'narks' them, 'No banana's in 1st class'
  or 'a 4 minute delay awaiting signals at Paddington'.
  Whilst I sit at Totnes for an hour because the XC is cancelled because of high tide at Dawlish.

  Fortunately the 'Signal Box Cafe' comes to my rescue, a fine dining establishment where I can escape
  my fellow 'bleating commuters'.
  Alas retirement looms so you will no longer need to suffer my sarcastic rants.
  (Will miss the bacon baps, though)