Channel 5 documentary, 'The Railway: First Great Western'

[whole diary]

[stuving]

The conductor on the Reading-Gatwick service was making alot of joke anouncments. Do they act like that all the time or just creating material for the TV programme? Interesting they refered to him as a 'train conductor', when on the PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) services last week they had 'train managers'. Is that a distinction FirstGW makes or just the TV being inconsistent? Also, they had him boarding a 150/0 then the 'return trip' was a Networker Turbo. Is there something with the staff rosters or with the editing of the programme?

He's always like that. And as I've heard most of those jokes I guess he reuses them many time over.

As to that 150 - I've never seen one on this service, so it would have to be a very rare swap. It was the first of the day and maybe that makes a difference, though I can't imagine why (I've never used it). Alternatively, that footage might have been from him on another run - but I think it looked right for RDG^‡(resolve)-GTW (or more likely RDH or even Shalford).

[lordgoata]

I thought he was a breath of fresh air, someone that actually seemed to really enjoy what he was doing. There have been a few drivers like that this year on the trains I have used, being really upbeat over the PA^▸ (Public Address), but most just sound like all they wanna do is get off - which I guess is understandable, its bad enough being stuck on a train when its delayed as a passenger, but I guess the drivers and guards must be as sick to death of it day in day out, outward and return journeys, as we are. Never really thought about that before now - you have my sympathies! 

[eightf48544]

One of the best quips I've heard from a driver was on a Turbo crawling Up the Mainline from Langley.


Sorry about this the signalmen are playing snooker, Yellow after Red.

[Fourbee]

As to that 150 - I've never seen one on this service, so it would have to be a very rare swap. It was the first of the day and maybe that makes a difference, though I can't imagine why (I've never used it). Alternatively, that footage might have been from him on another run - but I think it looked right for RDG^‡(resolve)-GTW (or more likely RDH or even Shalford).

Maybe that footage was taken on the Reading->Basingstoke branch which has 150(s) working it?

[BerkshireBugsy]

As to that 150 - I've never seen one on this service, so it would have to be a very rare swap. It was the first of the day and maybe that makes a difference, though I can't imagine why (I've never used it). Alternatively, that footage might have been from him on another run - but I think it looked right for RDG^‡(resolve)-GTW (or more likely RDH or even Shalford).

Maybe that footage was taken on the Reading->Basingstoke branch which has 150(s) working it?

That's a good point about the 150s - I has been a while since I travelled on that line but only remember the service utilising 165/166 units. I thought (as you implied) the 150s were primarily used on the Reading/Basingstoke route.

[ChrisB]

And Guards swap between the two during their shift...