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Great Western Coffee Shop
As at 6th November 2024 22:15 GMT
Recent Public Posts
Re: Bath bus station - merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:38, 6th November 2024
 
I've merged a few historic posts here - as ever, in the interests of continuity, clarity and ease of reference.

CfN. 

Re: Mining in Cornwall
Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:21, 6th November 2024
 
At the risk of being pedantic, is it not four square yards or 36 square feet?

Indeed! I am as pedantic as you in this matter hence my disquiet at the inappropriate terminology used to describe the actual unit of area.  To address Stuving's comments: my mine was a gold mine in old sedimentary rocks, with gold bearing 'reefs' of variable thickness.  Mining contracts (that determine pay) were on the basis of area irrespective of thickness.

The metric 'contract' unit was the centare - one hundredth of an are (pronounced 'air' - it being 10 by 10 metres or 100 square metres): i.e. one centare being one square metre. The hectare of today's field measurements being a hundred ares, or 10,000 square metres.

Now, I had inherited a mine publication on imperial to metric conversions dating from the early 1970s. There it gave the area conversion from square fathoms to centares. The square fathom turned to to be smaller than the square metre (centare) and a calculator showed that irrespective of what the unit was called, it was in fact a square yard. I reckon the miners of old took 3 x 3 feet to be 3 and 3 - hence six - and therefore a square fathom. Bit like an "Oylskin jaquette".

Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:59, 6th November 2024
 
Funnily enough, it's the same picture the BBC used to illustrate a previous news item about Bristol Temple Meads, at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7ygdx3ldo 


Re: Mining in Cornwall
Posted by Mark A at 18:41, 6th November 2024
 
Well done, both of you: I couldn't have coped with that - claustrophobia. 



Most of the underground workings were reasonably spacious apart from anything newly drilled and blasted - I'm over 6', but seldom had to stoop. The stopes were wide enough for a railway, battery powered apart from the very lowest level, which was diesel. On afternoon shifts, I used to drive the electric locos back to the cage for return to surface for a change of batteries and deliver them back where I had found them - if I could remember where that was. I believe that dumper trucks will be used instead of rail when the mine reopens. I found some pictures in a local news report - this would definitely add interest to St Erth station.



Thanks for the link to the photos. I was lucky enough to go on an underground tour of Geevor, though in sad circumstances as the mine was selling underground tours in an unsuccessful attempt to raise money to keep the pumps running. Much to see, and a strong sense, underground, of the warmth and the sense of space (plenty of headroom helped with that, and the rock was very competent, there was no sense of vast weights of strata needing to be handled carefully...)

Mark

Re: New station at Ashley Down, Bristol
Posted by brooklea at 18:34, 6th November 2024
 
Here's an example: 166220
... arrived at Filton Abbey Wood at 12:26 as 2H62
... ran as 5H63 to Bristol Parkway, platform 4
... coninued as 5H63 at 12:48 to Filtom Abbey Wood, arriving 12:52
... formed 2H63, the 12:54 to Bristol Temple Meads

I think I have mis-understood something then.  I believed that the reason the stopper up Filton Bank terminated rather oddly at Abbey Wood, one station before it would provide connections to London, Swansea, Birmingham and beyond was because of capacity issues at Bristol Parkway. And yet here it is buzzing in and out empty from platform 4.

5H63 terminated at Bristol Parkway today, and then ran back to Filton as 2H63, and then continuing on to Temple Meads
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:24369/2024-11-06/detailed
(Apologies for posting a link to a page that’ll expire in a few weeks time).

Partly filling a gap caused by the cancellation of 12:10 Gloucester to Westbury, but at least a sensible use of the resources available.

Re: Mining in Cornwall
Posted by stuving at 18:17, 6th November 2024
 
380 fathoms deep...

Yes old mines used to measure themselves in fathoms. One I worked on, (1.5 miles down: 1320 fathoms)) spanned the metrication change-over, and the older production figures were quoted in square fathoms. I imagined this to be 6 foot by 6 foot, but no: it was a square yard! Three squared is not 3 + 3

At the risk of being pedantic, is it not four square yards or 36 square feet?

I fear it's worse than that - and that a square fathom is in fact a volume measure: 8 cubic yards. After all, isn't a cube a square sort of thing?

Re: Mining in Cornwall
Posted by TonyK at 17:43, 6th November 2024
 

Yes old mines used to measure themselves in fathoms. One I worked on, (1.5 miles down: 1320 fathoms)) spanned the metrication change-over, and the older production figures were quoted in square fathoms. I imagined this to be 6 foot by 6 foot, but no: it was a square yard! Three squared is not 3 + 3

At the risk of being pedantic, is it not four square yards or 36 square feet?

One of the mine captains gave me a requisition chit for "Oylskin jaquette", and another gave up on trying to spell "corrugated" and ordered "wiggly steel" instead. Either could look at a blank wall or rock at the end of a level in the mine and tell you instantly how long it would take to drill, how much explosive would be needed, how much rock would result and so on, and if I ever found myself stuck on Bodmin Moor in bad weather, I would rather have one of them with me than my accountant. Ask them about a square fathom, though, and my guess is they would use an obscure Cornish expression not usually heard in polite company, then get on with something else.

Re: Euston Arch and Great Hall, demolished 1961 (from 6th November)
Posted by Mark A at 17:20, 6th November 2024
 
*snip**
I rather like the new Euston station. The appearance of the concourse was somewhat spoiled when the lighting was changed from the previously used cool white metal halide lamps to orange high pressure sodium lamps. This made the marble floor look black and dirty, whereas the previous lighting showed of the green colouration to advantage.

Agreed, Network Rail lifted the appearance of Euston's concourse very effectively, made a great clean space of it and used lighting to make the most of its austerity. Then people must have moved on, and a new lot didn't seem to see what they had. (That might be a terrible take though as I was only a very occasional user of the station, people who passed through it every day may have felt differently.)

Mark


Re: Mining in Cornwall
Posted by Noggin at 16:10, 6th November 2024
 
380 fathoms deep...

Yes old mines used to measure themselves in fathoms. One I worked on, (1.5 miles down: 1320 fathoms)) spanned the metrication change-over, and the older production figures were quoted in square fathoms. I imagined this to be 6 foot by 6 foot, but no: it was a square yard! Three squared is not 3 + 3

At the risk of being pedantic, is it not four square yards or 36 square feet?

Re: On this day - Remembering one of the UK's worst rail crashes
Posted by Electric train at 16:08, 6th November 2024
 
was it not re-classed as a road accident,as the car was on the road level crossing?

BBC had a item about the accident on Wednesdays points west lunch time local news.

I don't know about its classification - but the RSSB (and R is "Rail") did do the formal report which we have as a member's mirror at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/RSSB_Ufton001.pdf .  Although the report uses the word "accident" that concerns me due to what I understand to have been a deliberate act by the deceased car driver in causing the collision and thus the horrific aftermath.

The accident was one of the drivers for the development LiDAR object detection for high risk level crossings without CCTV

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024
Posted by Marlburian at 14:58, 6th November 2024
 
Typically for the Reading Chronicle, its headline says "Reading train station death: Person killed near Thatcham".

Re: Euston Arch and Great Hall, demolished 1961 (from 6th November)
Posted by broadgage at 14:55, 6th November 2024
 
This was within my lifetime, another fact that makes me feel very old ! I do not actually remember it, being too young to be interested in such things.

I DO remember a letter in a newspaper, calling for a slight reduction in train fares between Euston and the North, on the grounds that the new Euston station was furthur north, and distance travelled by the train therefore was reduced !

I rather like the new Euston station. The appearance of the concourse was somewhat spoiled when the lighting was changed from the previously used cool white metal halide lamps to orange high pressure sodium lamps. This made the marble floor look black and dirty, whereas the previous lighting showed of the green colouration to advantage.

Re: On this day - Remembering one of the UK's worst rail crashes
Posted by grahame at 14:26, 6th November 2024
 
was it not re-classed as a road accident,as the car was on the road level crossing?

BBC had a item about the accident on Wednesdays points west lunch time local news.

I don't know about its classification - but the RSSB (and R is "Rail") did do the formal report which we have as a member's mirror at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/RSSB_Ufton001.pdf .  Although the report uses the word "accident" that concerns me due to what I understand to have been a deliberate act by the deceased car driver in causing the collision and thus the horrific aftermath.

Re: On this day - Remembering one of the UK's worst rail crashes
Posted by infoman at 14:00, 6th November 2024
 
was it not re-classed as a road accident,as the car was on the road level crossing?

BBC had a item about the accident on Wednesdays points west lunch time local news.

Re: 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury
Posted by TaplowGreen at 13:39, 6th November 2024
 
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05
20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:05 will be terminated at Swindon.
It will no longer call at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Re: Peter Blackburn, RIP
Posted by grahame at 10:40, 6th November 2024
 
From tomorrow's Melksham News:


Re: Westbury - engineering works from 24th December 2024 for 30 days
Posted by grahame at 10:29, 6th November 2024
 
From the White Horse News, 7th November 2024


Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024
Posted by Marlburian at 10:08, 6th November 2024

Euston Arch and Great Hall, demolished 1961 (from 6th November)
Posted by grahame at 10:06, 6th November 2024
 
From https://heritagecalling.com/2014/12/15/9-lost-railway-stations/



And from the public domain, the Great Hall and the 1888 track plan




Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles
Posted by CyclingSid at 08:53, 6th November 2024
 
When did somebody bend Reading's platforms? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c774vn2m244o

On this day - Remembering one of the UK's worst rail crashes
Posted by CyclingSid at 08:51, 6th November 2024
 
Paul Clifton on the Ufton Nervet crash 20 years ago https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7046dkyrl0o
Twelve years after the incident, the level crossing was closed and replaced by a bridge.
Must admit I still look down the turning as I go by on the bus to Newbury.

free bus travel for service personal 10/11 November 2024
Posted by infoman at 08:39, 6th November 2024
 
Free bus travel to mark remembrance commemorations

Veterans and UK armed forces personnel using First Bus services in the West of England, Wales and Worcester are being offered free travel during remembrance commemorations this year.

To be eligible, passengers can either wear their military uniform or show the bus driver their service ID card on Remembrance Sunday (10th November) and Armistice Day (Monday 11th November). It is available on all First Bus services apart from the Airport Flyer.

The free travel offer is being made available to make it as easy as possible for customers to get to and from remembrance services and events, and is also available on First Bus services across England, Wales and Scotland.

Rob Pymm, Commercial Director for First West of England and Cymru, said: “Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday are important and solemn reminders of the sacrifices made by so many in our armed forces, and we want to do something to mark these occasions.

“Across First Bus, a number of our colleagues are veterans, and we’re very proud of their efforts and sacrifice. This is our way of saying thank you to them, as well as honouring the men and women who choose to serve and protect the freedoms we now enjoy.

“We want to make bus travel to and from remembrance events as easy as possible for people who are attending, and I am pleased that our business can play our part in supporting and remembering those in military service past and present.”

Re: Platform 1
Posted by CyclingSid at 08:38, 6th November 2024
 
When did simple single platform stations like Lymington Town get numbers? Presumably to feed the computer.

Re: Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024
Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:21, 6th November 2024
 
Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury

Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Reading and Newbury all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 08:40 06/11.

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by matth1j at 07:54, 6th November 2024
 
Yep, in a Chippenham station waiting room now

When I first looked at the National Rail app (~0540) the service was completely cancelled and I'd started making alternative arrangements. Was going to catch the 271 bus and would probably have made it to Bath in time to pick up the train I've missed at Chippenham. Oh well...

Re: a new green use for Bath bus station info desk?
Posted by infoman at 07:25, 6th November 2024
 
Just hope those who volunteer/work at the new hub want to do THE job and not just do A job.

Re: 0635 Salisbury - Worcester Foregate Str thru Melksham keeps running late
Posted by grahame at 07:25, 6th November 2024
 
Picking up on a post in the TransWilts thread
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be reinstated.
It will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Salisbury and Warminster.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

I also note this
04:54 Plymouth to London Paddington due 08:37 will be diverted between Westbury and Reading.
It will no longer call at Pewsey, Bedwyn, Hungerford and Newbury.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident.

So the unofficial connection at Chippenham will certainly not ‘make’ this morning as the Worcester train is going to run behind the diverted Plymouth - Paddington. Looking at the OpenTrainTimes signalling map, it appears the Worcester train is being held-back at Westbury so the line towards Bath isn’t blocked at Bradford Junction while it waits to go onto the single line to Melksham.

Just left Westbury and switched from "Delayed" to "07:36" on the board at Melksham

Where there's a quarter hour delay, it does nit make sense to try and maintain the connection, as this morning.

Re: a new green use for Bath bus station info desk?
Posted by grahame at 07:18, 6th November 2024
 
https://www.chuffed.org/project/new-home-for-climate-hub-banes?

Help Us Bring Climate Action to the Heart of Bath!
 
We’re thrilled to announce that Climate Hub BANES has secured a new home at the old ticket office in the Rotunda at Bath Bus Station! It’s been a long haul, but we’ve finally achieved this important milestone. It’s not for our exclusive use, as it remains part of the Bus Station, but it’s a prime location for raising awareness about climate and nature action in the heart of the city.
 
This new hub will serve as a dynamic, public-facing space where we can engage with the community, share knowledge, and provide vital information about how everyone can take small but impactful steps toward a more sustainable future. Our vision is to create a welcoming environment where local residents, commuters, and visitors can learn about nature and climate, discover sustainable living tips, and get involved in our campaigns for a greener Bath.

The elephant in the room of climate change is the effect of travel and transport, and one of the key improvers is using mass (public) transit.   One of the big sticking blocks of using public transport is the difficulty people have in navigating their way around a complex system about which information is not always easy to find. Will this nw hub help people use the public transport that it's so close to as well as looking after the nature and green environment?

 
The Coffee Shop forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western). The views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit https://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 ( graham AT sn12.net ).

Although we are planning ahead, we don't know what the future will bring here in the Coffee Shop. We have domains "firstgreatwestern.info" for w-a-y back and also "greatwesternrailway.info"; we can also answer to "greatbritishrailways.info" too. For the future, information about Great Brisish Railways, by customers and for customers.
 
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