Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 11:15 02 May 2025
 
* Activists say ship heading to Gaza was attacked by drones off coast of Malta
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 tomorrow - Walk to Pilning
10/05/25 - BRTA Westbury
10/05/25 - Model Railway Show, Calne
13/05/25 - Melksham TUG / AGM

On this day
2nd May (1999)
Last special train to Weymouth Quay (link)

Train RunningShort Run
09:21 Carmarthen to London Paddington
09:32 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
09:49 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
09:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
11:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
14:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
16:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
May 02, 2025, 11:26:23 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[141] In memory of the Weymouth Harbour Tramway on the anniversary o...
[124] Steam excursion - except there's much more diesel than steam!
[78] A very easy riddle
[60] Low passenger numbers due to train unreliability
[32] Warmest day of year as UK temperature hits 24.9C - April 2025
[31] Spain / Portugal power outage
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: The Flying Banana (The yellow one)  (Read 10526 times)
Clan Line
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 991



View Profile
« on: August 01, 2019, 20:35:12 »

Just happened to see this going into Warminster this afternoon - going Salisbury direction. Was hoping that it might be coming back a little later, but RTT» (Real Time Trains - website) told me it wasn't. Is there anywhere that might give advance notice of another visit from this unusual train ?
Logged
PhilWakely
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2168



View Profile
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2019, 20:45:57 »

It'll be back on the same diagram in 5 weeks. You can see it on the Westbury avoider tomorrow (Friday) when it visits Penzance.
Logged
Clan Line
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 991



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2019, 22:29:34 »

Many thanks for that. If I follow the times for tomorrow correctly, I will look for it at Heywood Rd Jct at 1930 (ish). Westbury White Horse hill with my 600mm lens might be a good bet.
I'll keep an eye out in 5 weeks as well for a visit to Warminster.
Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7429


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2019, 09:50:56 »

You can try following the NMT through RTT» (Real Time Trains - website), to see its future workings. However, there are several of those per day, so it's easier just to look at future workings at Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail). Some of those are other things, so you need to check them individually (having guessed which look likely NMT runs). Operations are listed several months ahead,  though note that it does stay away from home some nights.

The key thing to check is whether the train is classed as freight (ZZ) and timed as an HST (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)). I guess there could also be some stock testing like that, but I can't think of anything else. Or, maybe you can find a way of searching the set of trains defined in the data feeds, looking for that combination...
Logged
eightonedee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1801



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2019, 21:30:51 »

Somewhat strangely, when I  saw it sat in Reading some months ago, and clicked on the Open Train Times "box" for it (which I recall had two Zs in the code) to see where it was off to, it gave me journey details for a suburban service somewhere in Kent!
« Last Edit: August 03, 2019, 09:22:40 by eightonedee » Logged
Clan Line
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 991



View Profile
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2019, 22:08:24 »

 Got it..........albeit 25 mins late !

Logged
REVUpminster
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 570



View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2019, 22:22:20 »

Just passing as it was leaving Paignton at 15.40 this afternoon. When I got home I looked at real trains and it was passing Taunton signalled on the Bridgewater line. I think it was numbered 111P. There was another train ahead numbered xxxP and going up towards Westbury.
Logged
PhilWakely
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2168



View Profile
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2019, 14:34:30 »

Just passing as it was leaving Paignton at 15.40 this afternoon. When I got home I looked at real trains and it was passing Taunton signalled on the Bridgewater line. I think it was numbered 111P. There was another train ahead numbered xxxP and going up towards Westbury.

It had a very full diagram.............

1) Reading to Paignton via Penzance; followed by...
2) Paignton to Taunton via Bristol; and finally...
3) Taunton to Reading via Newbury.
Logged
GBM
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1768


View Profile Email
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2019, 09:55:45 »

.............

1) Reading to Paignton via Penzance; followed by...
2) Paignton to Taunton via Bristol; and finally...
3) Taunton to Reading via Newbury.
It managed to find drivers with route route knowledge, so no shortage of crewing.
Is there another crew member on board (i.e. Train Manager?)
Are the crew from Railfreight or 'local TOC (Train Operating Company)'s'?
Logged

Personal opinion only.  Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2019, 16:32:33 »

.............

1) Reading to Paignton via Penzance; followed by...
2) Paignton to Taunton via Bristol; and finally...
3) Taunton to Reading via Newbury.
It managed to find drivers with route route knowledge, so no shortage of crewing.
Is there another crew member on board (i.e. Train Manager?)
Are the crew from Railfreight or 'local TOC (Train Operating Company)'s'?

To my knowledge the train is operated and crewed by SERCO staff on behalf of Network Rail although I could be wrong, I expect a forum member with more knowledge will correct me If I am incorrect.

It does not carry a train manager as its not a passenger train as such.
Logged
RA
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 203


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2019, 17:20:46 »

.............

1) Reading to Paignton via Penzance; followed by...
2) Paignton to Taunton via Bristol; and finally...
3) Taunton to Reading via Newbury.
It managed to find drivers with route route knowledge, so no shortage of crewing.
Is there another crew member on board (i.e. Train Manager?)
Are the crew from Railfreight or 'local TOC (Train Operating Company)'s'?

Colas currently resource the train crew for the workings. There is a set of dedicated drivers who, depending on which operator has the contract, transfer across under TUPE (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. In a railway context, the legislation that protects rail staff when a franchise changes hands.). They were previously SERCO and later DB» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about). Colas also provide the traction for many of the locomotive hauled monitoring trains.
Logged
eightonedee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1801



View Profile
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2019, 22:43:59 »

Quote
It does not carry a train manager as its not a passenger train as such.

...and presumably no buffet or trolley service! Grin
Logged
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2019, 22:56:31 »

Quote
It does not carry a train manager as its not a passenger train as such.

...and presumably no buffet or trolley service! Grin

Quite right but it does have a kitchen area to have a brew up whenever they feel like one and it also has overnight accommodation which one could only rate as hostel class.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43960



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2019, 07:41:42 »

Quite right but it does have a kitchen area to have a brew up whenever they feel like one and it also has overnight accommodation which one could only rate as hostel class.

Now - is there something to be looking at there for regular trains - a bunk bed carriage on daytime trains, with a small kitchen in which passengers can make their own brew?  Or in these days of risk, health and safety a fixed vending machine for teas and coffees, and another for cold drinks, cakes, biscuits, crisps, etc.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
patch38
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 655


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2019, 15:11:24 »

If anyone is interested, it just went through Kemble (15:10 Tuesday 6 Aug) heading towards SWI» (Swindon - next trains)...

... and according to http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H23038/2019/08/06/advanced (which I assume refers) it's coming back again shortly.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page