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Chris from Nailsea
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« on: September 11, 2010, 20:53:28 » |
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The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership are planning a Santa Special train, between Trowbridge and Swindon and back, on Sunday 5 December 2010. This is only a provisional date at present (subject to clarification on engineering works, availability of train - and, indeed, whether Santa himself can spare the time!) However: please do pencil in this date - further details will be posted here, as soon as they are available. CfN.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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grahame
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« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2010, 22:08:59 » |
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Tomorrow's the 12th time that Santa will have been on the Melksham train in 13 years, and I've just prepared an update / handout that'll fill some of the less regular users in about the service - where it is, what sorts of things in can be used for, and where it may be going ... http://www.transwilts.org.uk/twnews_01_mkm.pdf |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2010, 17:44:18 » |
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Hmm.  With my apologies for the lack of any updates here in the meantime ... I can now report that the Santa Special, from Westbury to Swindon through Melksham this evening, is indeed rather 'special': it's an HST▸ ! It's also a rather long story - I'll post more later. CfN.   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2010, 18:00:33 » |
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Wow! A HST▸ . You lucky people. |
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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super tm
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« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2010, 18:01:42 » |
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I always thought santa would need something bigger than a 150 to deliver all his toys |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2010, 19:33:29 » |
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Not only - but also ... !  The return journey for the 'Santa Special' was also an HST▸ - and the FGW▸ staff really played a trump card, reserving the two front carriages in First Class exclusively for the Santa passengers! Well done, and very grateful thanks to the FGW staff involved - Daphne deserves a 'special' mention here. Further details to follow. CfN. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Sion Bretton
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« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2010, 19:52:42 » |
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And it was great for FGW▸ to lay on a 125 up and back
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2010, 19:59:20 » |
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Sorry: two topics on the same subject merged here. CfN.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2010, 22:07:29 » |
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For further details of the TransWilts 'Santa Special', please see an illustrated article by grahame. I'm particularly sorry that I was unable to attend, in view of those unexpected (although ultimately very welcome) last-minute developments! CfN. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2011, 22:47:13 » |
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From my e-mail, earlier this evening: Hi Chris,
I know it is a little late but I have just come across the article regarding the Santa special that took place on 5th December 2010.
I would just like to say that the use of the 125 Hst train was a result of points failure that occurred at Thingley junction on that day, which meant that the Bristol to Swindon service was diverted via Westbury, as this train was out of course working it must have seemed practical to send this HST▸ to Swindon via Melksham in order for the passengers that boarded at Bristol to continue their journey.
As the driver of the HST did not know the road the driver that was to work the 150 'santa special' was asked to pilot the HST driver over the route.
Well I am surprised that you say an HST has never before stopped at Melksham station and as I was the driver of the HST that day I was thrilled to be part of history in the making and also thrilled that the children has such a wonderful time, a mention must also go out to the HST train manager, Paul Normanton and to the Westbury driver who piloted me who's name I do not know.
Just goes to prove that despite trains running late or being diverted it can sometime pay off to other advantages.
Regards
An HSS▸ driver
So, something very positive did indeed result from that initial disruption to the train service that evening!  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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