Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372387/31622/30] Posted by grahame at 21:39, 13th February 2026 |      |
Yep, they both are. There are only so many places we were at today!
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372386/31622/30] Posted by johnneyw at 21:10, 13th February 2026 | |
1. has been guessed correctly as Chester
Ah yes, so it seems. It was still quite fresh in my memory despite the unfamiliar view from that hotel. I liked Chester and found a decent hotel by the canal near the town centre.
| Re: Mousehole, Cornwall: a bus route change (for the worse) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372385/31600/5] Posted by Mark A at 21:00, 13th February 2026 | |
Good to hear. Never stayed there, mind, but their lawn and its outlook could hardly be better.
Mark
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372384/31622/30] Posted by Mark A at 20:41, 13th February 2026 | |
A police dog took exception to me there and had a little bit of a go at me. Its handler was less than impressed and communicated this to the dog in surprisingly forthright terms. To be honest, I wouldn't like to repeat the experience either.
Mark
| Re: Buying Tickets for Four Seniors In "Fare's Fair" [372383/31623/4] Posted by John D at 20:16, 13th February 2026 | |
Yes you can buy for May, the ticket office clerk will probably remind you that all need senior railcards valid at date of travel.
One of your party might have a railcard that expires before travel date, so showing it now doesn't prove they will have renewed it, or will remember it on the day.
It's also a bit daft if you get refused at a ticket office, but can then go online and buy it anyway. If this happened it's sort of indirectly recommending no reason to keep ticket offices open.
| Re: Buying Tickets for Four Seniors In "Fare's Fair" [372382/31623/4] Posted by bobm at 19:59, 13th February 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
You can book seat reservations via a GWR account on their website. It asks what type of tickets you have but doesn’t actually need the proof.
Incidentally you can reserve a seat on any reservable service with any TOC from the GWR website.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372381/31622/30] Posted by ChrisB at 19:57, 13th February 2026 | |
I'm thinking that 2 might be Newport.
Looking at this again, yes, I think so too.
I'm pretty sure that I know the first one
1. has been guessed correctly as Chester
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372380/31622/30] Posted by stuving at 19:15, 13th February 2026 | |
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372379/31622/30] Posted by johnneyw at 18:56, 13th February 2026 | |
I'm pretty sure that I know the first one because I think that I was there a couple of months back but I shall hold fire as I've had a guess at No2 already.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372378/31622/30] Posted by johnneyw at 18:47, 13th February 2026 | |
I'm thinking that 2 might be Newport.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372377/31622/30] Posted by grahame at 18:36, 13th February 2026 | |
1. Chester?
Yes, and no. 3 is Melksham. Nos. 2 and 4 are neither Cardiff nor Waterloo though.
| Re: Buying Tickets for Four Seniors In "Fare's Fair" [372376/31623/4] Posted by grahame at 18:35, 13th February 2026 | |
Can you can buy the tickets online, collect at station and get reservations from the chap or chapess in the ticket office.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372375/31622/30] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 18:29, 13th February 2026 Already liked by johnneyw | |
1. Chester?
| Re: Buying Tickets for Four Seniors In "Fare's Fair" [372374/31623/4] Posted by ChrisB at 18:29, 13th February 2026 | |
I doubt it - although you only need to travel with the railcards, so maybe?
| Buying Tickets for Four Seniors In "Fare's Fair" [372373/31623/4] Posted by Oxonhutch at 18:25, 13th February 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
We are organising a group trip for four of us down to Cornwall in May. We all have Senior Railcards but all live in separate parts of Oxfordshire.
I would like to buy all four tickets together at the same time, and intend to use a station ticket office as I want seat reservations to have us all sitting together, plus book some Pullman Dining on the way home. My idea is to get tickets starting at Reading and have everyone, including myself organise our respective rail journeys to that Berkshire metropolis, in time for our chosen train.
Can I buy four SRC discounted tickets, including for myself, when I only have my railcard with me? Would save me a wasted trip to the station if not.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372372/31622/30] Posted by bradshaw at 18:18, 13th February 2026 | |
4 Cardiff? It is one of the Class 153 units, 153572, converted as an Active Travel unit for the Heart of Wales Line. They are coupled to a ‘normal’ 153 unit and provide 10 bicycle spaces.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372371/31622/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:46, 13th February 2026 | |
3. They haven't taken you far from home in that one: Melksham.
| Re: Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372370/31622/30] Posted by ChrisB at 17:42, 13th February 2026 | |
2. The walkway between Waterloo & Waterloo East?
| Itchy feet - where have they taken me? In "The Lighter Side" [372369/31622/30] Posted by grahame at 17:39, 13th February 2026 | |
I have a theory that if I step out of a station and then post a "where am I" picture, it's a darned site harder for our members to identify. I suspect you'll prove me wrong
1.
on the way
2.
3.
4.
| Re: Mousehole, Cornwall: a bus route change (for the worse) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372368/31600/5] Posted by Kernow Otter at 17:27, 13th February 2026 | |
For those of us less mobile than we used to be, busses not serving the harbour is a massive problem.
Yes, the walk is 'only' around 500 or so yards, but it's very steep; encounter traffic each way. and will be soaking wet when it rains.
Three Sprinter 'vans' currently used by First will be replaced by a half hourly decker service, which will turn just pass the Old Coastguard Hotel.
That turn is tight, and can be problematic with traffic and pedestrian flow, especially when summer traffic comes in.
Yes, the walk is 'only' around 500 or so yards, but it's very steep; encounter traffic each way. and will be soaking wet when it rains.
Three Sprinter 'vans' currently used by First will be replaced by a half hourly decker service, which will turn just pass the Old Coastguard Hotel.
That turn is tight, and can be problematic with traffic and pedestrian flow, especially when summer traffic comes in.
For those disembarking at The Old Coastguard, do go in. One of my favourite places for dinner, bed, and breakfast.
https://oldcoastguardhotel.co.uk/
Edit to add link
| Re: Mousehole, Cornwall: a bus route change (for the worse) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372367/31600/5] Posted by Mark A at 17:03, 13th February 2026 | |
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [372366/28982/26] Posted by Richard Fairhurst at 16:25, 13th February 2026 | |
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [372365/10737/21] Posted by Red Squirrel at 16:19, 13th February 2026 | |
Many of us suspect that BCC is deliberately trying to make car journeys across the city as awkward as possible to reduce traffic volumes :-)
If we want to make more room for public transport and active travel, something's got to give!
Incidentally, does anyone know:
- Will the bus stop be a replacement for the current Temple Gate stop?
- Will there be a new dedicated cycle bridge across the railway? The rendering seems to suggest that.
The southbound bus stop appears to be an additional stop. The northbound side of the road is outside the planning 'red line', so it may be the case that there is no corresponding northbound bus stop - which would seem to rather weaken the Southern Gateway's 'hub' potential.
There is no funding for the cycle bridge, so at best this is passive provision.
| Re: Somerset to Sydney without flying In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [372364/28286/52] Posted by broadgage at 16:06, 13th February 2026 | |
Very unusually they returned to the UK on same ship that took them to the USA. It did not wait for them ! but made a return voyage to the UK whilst they enjoyed a holiday in upstate New York.
A different cook was aboard for this voyage, VERY lacking in experience, but willing to learn and eager to please. He now knows how to make Yorkshire puddings, and other traditional foods.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [372363/28982/26] Posted by TaplowGreen at 15:30, 13th February 2026 | |
Looks like the 175s are coming to Laira plus the two simulators. The 158s at Exeter to go to Bristol.
GWR to get all the class 175s. It be great to see them in service they are good units.
This hasn't aged very well.
| Re: Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts) In "Bristol (WECA, now WEMCA) Commuters" [372362/10737/21] Posted by Noggin at 15:15, 13th February 2026 | |
The part I am amazed at is how planning got approved to have these extra vehicles being on the Bath Road bridge.
That roundabout and area is congested at the best of times, but to have entry and exit to the car park must add additional problems
That roundabout and area is congested at the best of times, but to have entry and exit to the car park must add additional problems
Many of us suspect that BCC is deliberately trying to make car journeys across the city as awkward as possible to reduce traffic volumes :-)
More seriously. I suspect that the planning included modelling of the traffic flows. The station has relatively limited parking, so the bigger issue is likely to be taxis and drop off/pick up. But it's not a huge volume and IIRC, there will also be provision for that on the north side.
Incidentally, does anyone know:
- Will the bus stop be a replacement for the current Temple Gate stop?
- Will there be a new dedicated cycle bridge across the railway? The rendering seems to suggest that.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [372361/28982/26] Posted by REVUpminster at 14:58, 13th February 2026 | |
175011 is back at Laira somehow??
It is out an about and due to do the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. I did a snip of the train at Saltash. It may not appear here.
It is out an about and due to do the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. I did a snip of the train at Saltash. It may not appear here.
5Z13 shows 175011 allocated from Par, and RTT has reports of it from Par to (so far) St Germans. How it got to Par, and why it's not showing on Traksy, is another matter.
It has just popped up at Wivelscombe on Traksy. But how it's already got past Saltash on camera, I have no idea.
The 1340 was cancelled and only 175001 seems to be running round. GWR service gone to pot.
| Re: Buses: heating In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372360/31610/5] Posted by broadgage at 13:27, 13th February 2026 Already liked by PrestburyRoad | |
There have been many complaints on social media about cold buses on the First bus services that radiate (sic) from Taunton. The complaints have been about the new electric fleet not having sufficient warmth.
Heating a diesel bus should be easy, there is almost unlimited free heat from the engine.
With an electric bus, it is more challenging since every KWH used for heating depletes the battery. I would hope that the loses in the power electronics are recycled and used for heating. These loses are relatively small and probably only a few KW but every little helps.
ANY type of bus may be pre-heated before use by mains electricity, and on a diesel bus the engine may also be preheated.
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [372359/28982/26] Posted by stuving at 12:46, 13th February 2026 | |
175011 is back at Laira somehow??
It is out an about and due to do the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. I did a snip of the train at Saltash. It may not appear here.
It is out an about and due to do the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. I did a snip of the train at Saltash. It may not appear here.
5Z13 shows 175011 allocated from Par, and RTT has reports of it from Par to (so far) St Germans. How it got to Par, and why it's not showing on Traksy, is another matter.
It has just popped up at Wivelscombe on Traksy. But how it's already got past Saltash on camera, I have no idea.
| Wells - Bath, from April '26 timetable change (for the worse) In "Buses and other ways to travel" [372358/31621/5] Posted by Mark A at 12:43, 13th February 2026 | |
Haven't yet found anything on this save for a petition on change.org. Indicates the last two services departing Wells after 5pm are to be axed.
Mark
https://www.change.org/p/pause-the-withdrawal-of-first-bus-174-early-evening-service
