Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380479/32456/31] Posted by grahame at 16:58, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Plans for above ground shelter;
Select a reasonably flat site, at least 100M by 100 M.
Remove lose topsoil and reserve for later use.
Lay a reinforced concrete floor about 30M by 30M. Ensure a SLIGHT slope down towards the door way.
Build internal and external walls out of blockwork. No internal walls to be unsupported for more than 3M. supports may consist of internal walls or small walls to support shelves, batteries and water tanks.
Roof with precast concrete slabs.
Waterproof the roof and walls with thick bitumen, Cover roof and walls with plywood. coated with bitumen.
Wait for concrete to cure.
Bury the entire structure with imported soil, and apply the previously saved top soil atop this. Seed with "pasture mixture"
Select a reasonably flat site, at least 100M by 100 M.
Remove lose topsoil and reserve for later use.
Lay a reinforced concrete floor about 30M by 30M. Ensure a SLIGHT slope down towards the door way.
Build internal and external walls out of blockwork. No internal walls to be unsupported for more than 3M. supports may consist of internal walls or small walls to support shelves, batteries and water tanks.
Roof with precast concrete slabs.
Waterproof the roof and walls with thick bitumen, Cover roof and walls with plywood. coated with bitumen.
Wait for concrete to cure.
Bury the entire structure with imported soil, and apply the previously saved top soil atop this. Seed with "pasture mixture"
Erm ... word of caution to readers ... in our neck of the woods, you might need planning permission ... and with so many local stores closing, there may be a shortage of precast concrete slabs in your town ...
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380478/32456/31] Posted by broadgage at 15:04, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Stocking the bunker.
WATER, keep a good stock in 1000L IBCs or similar. Suggest one IBC per person. That is about 30L per person per day.
FOOD, per person, 30 tins of tuna, 30 tins of fruit, 15 packs of sweet biscuits, 30 packs of savoury biscuits 15 L long life fruit juice. Or as preferred
Lighting, a 12 volt deep cycle battery of at least 1,000 AH.
Candles, matches, dry cells, torches oil lanterns.
Other stocks, blankets at least four per head, towels at least two each. Ten changes of underwear per head, and three changes of outer clothing.
Generous stocks of medicines.
hand tools and cordless power tools.
Geiger counters, at least three.
| Re: To 'stockpile food' is now our Government's official policy, apparently In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380477/32456/31] Posted by broadgage at 14:46, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Plans for above ground shelter;
Select a reasonably flat site, at least 100M by 100 M.
Remove lose topsoil and reserve for later use.
Lay a reinforced concrete floor about 30M by 30M. Ensure a SLIGHT slope down towards the door way.
Build internal and external walls out of blockwork. No internal walls to be unsupported for more than 3M. supports may consist of internal walls or small walls to support shelves, batteries and water tanks.
Roof with precast concrete slabs.
Waterproof the roof and walls with thick bitumen, Cover roof and walls with plywood. coated with bitumen.
Wait for concrete to cure.
Bury the entire structure with imported soil, and apply the previously saved top soil atop this. Seed with "pasture mixture"
| Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles In "The Lighter Side" [380476/11558/30] Posted by Phantom at 13:27, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Melksham and Nailsea
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [380475/5272/28] Posted by Noggin at 13:19, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
In fairness, whilst it might not be perfect, it does give the average punter a reasonable idea of what 20-odd million quid of public money would get them, rather than the desolate grey concrete and footbridge the non-habitual rail user might imagine.
It's perhaps not wise for 'civilians' to be generating these images, but it probably cost a fraction of the usual Network Rail and local authority renderings.
At the end of the day, what we want is public support for station reopenings, right?
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [380474/5272/28] Posted by PhilWakely at 10:27, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
How many lifts have doors on the front and side like this one rather than either front only or front and back?
| Re: Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic) In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [380473/5272/28] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 10:06, 5th October 2026 Already liked by PhilWakely | ![]() |
A Class 387 Electrostar on a route with neither OLE nor 3rd Rail.
Unless of course this is one of the upgraded battery-powered units.
| Re: New Dorset transport vision for roads, rail and buses (3.10.2026) In "Heart of Wessex" [380471/32579/19] Posted by Bob_Blakey at 09:51, 5th October 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby | ![]() |
.....The project would include a new passing loop between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill.....
How about this for an idea: install this passing loop at the site of the closed (October 1966) Sparkford railway station, and reopen the station. Location wise it would make perfect sense because Sparkford is close to being halfway between YVP & CLC.
A reopened station might very well reduce some journeys which currently involve using the A303 (which surely has to be a good thing?). And it might be a useful drop off point for visitors to such as Yeovilton, Compton Castle & Haynes Motor Museum and maybe residents of the numerous local villages if a connecting bus service could be established.
| Re: New Dorset transport vision for roads, rail and buses (3.10.2026) In "Heart of Wessex" [380470/32579/19] Posted by John D at 09:06, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
It's quite telling how many big housing schemes are being built in Dorset in areas that lost their stations (and halts) in 1960s (when those towns were small)
In alphabetical order
Blandford Forum
Blandford St Mary
Bradford Peverell & Stratton
Broadstone
Charlton Marshall
Corfe Mullen
Creekmore
Ferndown
Hamworthy
Spetisbury
Sturminster Newton
West Moors
Wimborne Minster
West Moors
Verwood
The housing strategy seems to allow lots of new building near Wool, Moreton, Upway Wishing Well,
| Re: Ideas for a day out? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380469/32559/31] Posted by REVUpminster at 06:36, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Google street views are usually undertaken early morning so the camera on the motorcycle can get round without stopping. You often get delivery lorries in the view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnKPUAL7eO0
| Re: High Streets - thriving, changing, dying in 2026? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380468/32553/31] Posted by Marlburian at 06:28, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Since I wrote above about my trip into Reading, there's been a flurry of posts on the local NextDoor site about pickpockets working in a particular locality in the town centre; they can get very aggressive when challenged. The police "are aware of the situation".
| Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles In "The Lighter Side" [380467/11558/30] Posted by Marlburian at 06:14, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Surely it's St Mawes in Cornwall?
(Sorry, for some reason I can't integrate the actual image into this post.)
| Re: New Dorset transport vision for roads, rail and buses (3.10.2026) In "Heart of Wessex" [380466/32579/19] Posted by Trowres at 01:11, 5th October 2026 | ![]() |
Trowbridge - just for example. 

I can agree with a straight face ( OK a modest grin ).
When I moved in around a quarter of a century ago, it could offer me:
- Work, shops, park all within walking distance along mostly low or zero traffic routes
- Railway station also walkable
- Fantastic countryside surrounding (albeit not so walkable)
We (I'm including myself in that collective term
) are going even more off-topic here, but I found this rather interesting.From the BBC:
US removes all bombers from RAF Fairford base

A Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off to depart for home at RAF Fairford on Sunday - Image © Getty Images
The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the British military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter terror police.
A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday it had removed all of its bombers from the base back to their home stations in America.
The US did not give a reason for the withdrawal, but it follows a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase in Gloucestershire.
Five men were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences near the base and subsequently released on police bail. A sixth man, a UK-Iranian national, was also later arrested and released on bail.
Whitehall sources have not disputed the decision from Washington was in response to the incident at RAF Fairford.
The BBC has also been told it was a military rather than a political decision - taken at an operational level - and communicated from the US military to its British counterparts.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented.
Days after the incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident but did not provide further details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
Initially, five men aged between 23 and 25 were arrested in the early hours of the morning after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base operated by the US Air Force (USAF). All five were UK nationals from London.
They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, before being released on bail in what police called an "investigative decision" that was "grounded in experience and strategy".
The sixth man, aged 25, was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Counter terror police confirmed on Saturday he had also been released on bail.
RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades. In recent months, US bombers have taken off from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.
In July, Iran said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces".
Days after the incident, and before the arrest of the sixth man, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that it "clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor". Rubio did not provide further details - saying at the time he was limited on what he could say on air.
US President Donald Trump separately said he was "surprised" the five men had been released on bail. "We know everything about them, we would not have released them," he said, adding that the UK had worked with the US "very closely" on this.

A Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off to depart for home at RAF Fairford on Sunday - Image © Getty Images
The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the British military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter terror police.
A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday it had removed all of its bombers from the base back to their home stations in America.
The US did not give a reason for the withdrawal, but it follows a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase in Gloucestershire.
Five men were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences near the base and subsequently released on police bail. A sixth man, a UK-Iranian national, was also later arrested and released on bail.
Whitehall sources have not disputed the decision from Washington was in response to the incident at RAF Fairford.
The BBC has also been told it was a military rather than a political decision - taken at an operational level - and communicated from the US military to its British counterparts.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented.
Days after the incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident but did not provide further details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
Initially, five men aged between 23 and 25 were arrested in the early hours of the morning after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base operated by the US Air Force (USAF). All five were UK nationals from London.
They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, before being released on bail in what police called an "investigative decision" that was "grounded in experience and strategy".
The sixth man, aged 25, was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Counter terror police confirmed on Saturday he had also been released on bail.
RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades. In recent months, US bombers have taken off from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.
In July, Iran said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces".
Days after the incident, and before the arrest of the sixth man, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that it "clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor". Rubio did not provide further details - saying at the time he was limited on what he could say on air.
US President Donald Trump separately said he was "surprised" the five men had been released on bail. "We know everything about them, we would not have released them," he said, adding that the UK had worked with the US "very closely" on this.
This is a response from the USA's Department of War (recently re-designated from Department of Defence by Donald Trump himself). The USA is apparently pulling out, militarily.
In view of this development, may I please ask for members here 'broadgage' to send me the plans for building an above-ground bunker and for 'TaplowGreen' for his inclusion of a sliding roof in such a structure. Any updated suggestions as to what particular items of food and drink should be stockpiled will also be much appreciated.
CfN.

Someone who uses 'faceplant' (I don't
) could perhaps point out to "James Buczkowski [councillor] for Cullompton, Bradninch and Kentisbeare" that (for probably an additional £1 million) he could get an appropriate lift / stairway structure for the right-hand side of that footbridge - rather than it just going into a tree.| Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles In "The Lighter Side" [380463/11558/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:53, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
Argh! Grahame clickbaited me into visiting F***book - again! I must be more careful.
That's Dartmouth - or possibly Kingsbridge, or Salcombe.
| Re: Ideas for a day out? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380462/32559/31] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:35, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
When I find out the right way to condense the long-winded Streetview URLs into something neat for a message on this forum, I will post a few examples of what (for me, anyway) makes or breaks a potential destination.
My learned mentor grahame will be happy to help you with that. Please do go ahead and post such examples.

| Re: Ideas for a day out? In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [380461/32559/31] Posted by Trowres at 22:56, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
All the suggested place you could walk round on GoogleEarth.
I had a look at some of the places using Google Streetview. Perhaps a topic for another thread: "Does Streetview make places look more dismal than they really are?"
When I find out the right way to condense the long-winded Streetview URLs into something neat for a message on this forum, I will post a few examples of what (for me, anyway) makes or breaks a potential destination.
| Re: New Dorset transport vision for roads, rail and buses (3.10.2026) In "Heart of Wessex" [380460/32579/19] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:49, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
Trowbridge - just for example.

| Re: New Dorset transport vision for roads, rail and buses (3.10.2026) In "Heart of Wessex" [380459/32579/19] Posted by Trowres at 22:35, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
...
Good transport links help all kinds of businesses, those hoping to attract customers to buy their goods and services and those looking to recruit good staff.
Good transport links help all kinds of businesses, those hoping to attract customers to buy their goods and services and those looking to recruit good staff.
Mmm... yes, good transport links might increase the pool of potential employees by widening the area within a certain commute time...
... but if you want to attract from over a really wide area (like the whole country), it helps to be located somewhere with a high quality urban environment and good lifestyle opportunities.
Driving 'bang road' for one - but then again. where is the real track it should be on?
Train station returning to village after more than 100 years
Where on earth has it been wandering in the interim?
Simply shocking
You have to wonder why the more "anti violence" measures and response policing we have, the worse the situation becomes. Some people's willingness to be violent in an an attempt to get their way is simply startling.
<snip>
You have to wonder why the more "anti violence" measures and response policing we have, the worse the situation becomes. Some people's willingness to be violent in an an attempt to get their way is simply startling.
<snip>
Well, the headlines are designed to be shocking. I'm rather surprised that the ORR (which should know better) focuses on the change between a single pair of years.
Have a look at the tables for 2004-2026 at https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/health-and-safety/rail-safety/table-5206-workforce-and-non-workforce-assaults/ , remembering that double-counting is inherent in the national network figures (a single incident can be included in more than one category).
My quick takeaways on non-workforce assaults (table 5206b):
- There are some significant changes in the 2000s and 2010s. Why?
- GBH incidents in the first 5 years averaged 146.6; in the final 5 years: 146.8
It's also worth understanding what is being counted: see https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1230/rail-safety-statistics-quality-report.pdf
| Re: Industrial Heritage in Wiltshire conference majoring on railways - 24.10.2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [380454/32578/34] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:26, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
That's a relatively small round of drinks in a pub, these days.

Thanks, bobm.

| Re: Engineering works 10 - 16 October 2026 In "London to Kennet Valley" [380453/32260/8] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:22, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
... and yes, before Coffee Shop forum member TaplowGreen even gets here, they were possibly headed towards a GWR weekend barbeque.

| Re: Industrial Heritage in Wiltshire conference majoring on railways - 24.10.2026 In "Diary - what's happening when?" [380452/32578/34] Posted by bobm at 21:21, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
Just to note it’s £18.50 “a stroll”.
| Re: Engineering works 10 - 16 October 2026 In "London to Kennet Valley" [380451/32260/8] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:18, 4th October 2026 | ![]() |
We would be grateful if you were able to cascade this to your networks and, if you have any questions, please do get in touch.
Best wishes, Olivia & Heledd
Olivia Willett | Deputy Head of Public Affairs | Great Western Railway
E: olivia.willett@GWR.com
Heledd Iolo | Senior Public Affairs Manager | Network Rail
E: heledd.iolo@networkrail.co.uk
If I may perhaps share some of grahame's understandable frustration here: Olivia & Heledd both offer their first names, as a friendly point of contact - but then they both leave the office over the weekend.
CfN.

| Re: Some Site Statistics In "News, Help and Assistance" [380450/10588/29] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:35, 4th October 2026 Already liked by GBM | ![]() |
I add to my intelligence on these pages and I am very much real. (Quiet at the back.
)
)My colleague bobm on this forum is indeed very much real - and very intelligent (despite having previously been a professional journalist).
I recently enjoyed a couple of chats over a pint of beer in Swindon with him. I won't share his own apparent statistics here, but he is perhaps a 'larger than life' character.

My regards to bobm. CfN.
















