3. Is indeed Switzerland. I've looked it up: specifically, it's a village in the Swiss Alps - a World Heritage Site. See https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-gb/destinations/berguen-bravuogn/ 

 
17:12 Bristol - Oxford cancelled because of a shortage of train crew

 

With thanks for your post, JayMac, I have now added BAOR to our 'abbreviations & acronyms' page.

 
For an interesting (and much more positive) piece on how the railways are coping with extreme hot weather and using sound science to devise coping policies, there's an interesting interview at the start of this week's Green Signals ' weekly round-up  - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiUp0JKuArs

Some interesting take-homes include that modern multiple-unit trains cope better with extreme conditions and cause less problems with damage to the track, and modern track-laying methods mitigate the risk of rail buckling.

Something for the "world's going to the dogs, we are all going soft" and "bring back locomotive hauled real trains" groups to contemplate.

 

I thought that looked more Austrian, on stylistic grounds. I still do, though there is a big overlap between them, but as 7 is Austria (Bregenz), 3 must be Swiss.

 

But then if there we no rails there for the trains, there would not be a problem either 

 
I have to agree its a council problem,if cars and lorries were not going over the rails,there would not be a problem.

 
The rearranged drop in sessions are Tuesday 14th July at Pill Community Centre, and Thursday 16th July at Somerset Hall Portishead, 3.30pm to 7.30 pm.

 
Thanks, chaps. I'm now feeling like a really old git.

 
I have a memory of listening to Forces Challenge on BFBS,along with A Jolly Good Show with DLT.

 
Personally I think the House of Commons with a couple of Liver Birds on the top would be quite good.  The Cabinet Office is not too far away, next to the BBC.

 

Depends on where 'The House' is.

  Oh, and wipe your boots on the way in wud yuh ...

 

If it is like the Wallingford bypass, that long post-dates the railway, then it will be a council problem.

 
175005 moved by road, unable to be dragged, to Wolverton reported on another site. Also half of 008 is at Wolverton

Ely :2: 175008 (half), 175104

Wolverton : 9 : 175005.  175102/103/105/106/107/108/109/110

Laira : 14: 175002/007/009, 175114 ex Ely; 175001/003/006/011, 175101/111/112/113/115/116 ex Wolverton

Exeter : 1 : 175004 ex Wolverton

Long Rock : 1 : 175010 ex Ely

as of 1 July 2026

 
The Cotswold Canal Trust are running a very infrequent series of trips from Wallbridge Lock, Stroud, at 10:30am, heading east for a couple of locks before a short trot to Stroud Brewery (opportunity for eats) and return ~3.30pm, £25pp excluding the hit from Stroud Brewery.

The ~three trips later in the year seem to have sold out, tomorrow's (I think the first time they've run this one, so, a shakedown trip) as far as I can see, has spaces.

Mark

https://portal.cotswoldcanals.org/product/perseverance-boat-trip-stroud-brewery/

 
Radio 4 was carried on 1500metres Long wave

 
Yes: I think we were there to remind the Germans of the error of their ways. As well as our Long Wave UK radio transmissions, obviously.

I remember a radio series of 'Forces Challenge', where a quiz pitched teams from different armed forces units against each other.  That may have been on Long Wave - or possibly Radio 4.

CfN. 

 

and earlier 1W29 1453 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street was cancelled due to a points failure (IB).

and from yesterday:

1W15 0750 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
1P22 1059 Great Malvern to London Paddington cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
1W27 1350 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
1P34 1632 Great Malvern to London Paddington cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
2E14 1704 Didcot Parkway to Evesham cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
2E16 1851 Evesham to Oxford cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW);
1W41 2052 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled due to unknown cause (ZW).

 
I'm assuming from the context that BAOR is British Army of the Rhine?

 

Yes, I've learned to do that - the hard way. 

Many thanks for your ongoing work here on the Coffee Shop forum, grahame.

CfN.

 
Would you like me to look into the possibility of merging those topics, stuving?  I did consider it, when I posted - simply for continuity.

Chris from Nailsea. 

 

A couple of points from me, if I may?

Here in the town of Nailsea, our local branch of WH Smith closed several years ago: it became a 'Pound Shop' - and that seems to be trading quite well. I have made purchases of sometimes remarkably cheap brand name items there.

Our previous 'Original Factory Shop' closed years ago, but then (eventually) re-opened.  I bought many items of quality discounted clothing, footwear and kitchenware from them - but then they closed down again. The extensive building is now yet another charity shop on the High Street. (To be fair, I have donated a couple of polo shirts to their appeal for donations - so I'm perhaps guilty of encouraging them).

CfN.

 
That, by the way, is the Dean Forest Railway, not that the report mentions it. Who owns the road crossing, or is responsible for maintaining it, is another question.

 
1srt day was Tuesday I thought

 
Give them 12 months to shut the rest or sell them on.

We ought to make it clear though that this doesn't affect those in the thread subject line! They are remaining as WH Smiths. It's just the TJ Jones version

 

Henley regatta's first day today, which brings an enhanced branch timetable courtesy of the GWR. Seven carriage set on Saturday....

Mark

https://news.gwr.com/news/henley-royal-regatta-returns-gwr-doubles-capacity-on-twyford-to-henley-shuttle-for-another-bumper-year

 

Modella, owners of TGJones, are looking to close up to 150 of their 450 stores - see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn751pkmgyxo -


Like similar actions "saved" Claires and the Original Factory Shop ... ?

 
From the BBC:

 


Early train - 05:58 - Leuven to Brussels Midi (started from hotel beside station at about 05:40). Train arrive Brussels at 06:25.  Coffee and Belgian waffle for breakfast - entered Eurostar / UK checkin area at 06:45.  Ticket check, security check, leaving Schengen Check, entering UK check, passing through duty free area - in waiting lounge at about 07:10. Yes there were queues / lines but they moved reasonably fast.  Boarding from 07:30 - seated in train by 07:40.  Left on time at 07:57, into UK (exit Eurotunnel) now UK time 08:30.  Crossed the Medway at 08:43.  WiFi on train "terrible ..." according to the young lady beside me, and I had to agree.

Due it at 08:57 ... but signal stop outside and we rolled in at 09:08. Walked the maze at St Pancras International, and straight onto Hammersmith and City tube that arrived at the platform at the same time I did. Pulled out at 09:16. Paddington at 09:27 - in good time to catch the 09:48.

09:48 - (final destination Carmarthen) left on time bus is now going slow signal-to-signal at Langley.  10:05 - "Would the train manager please contact the driver" and then train manager announces a "fault with the signalling system" ... and another long distance train overtakes us via the relief lines.   10:30 - just crept though Twyford - branch train platform crammed with posh people.  Wrong automated announcements. "This train is for Carmarthen and London Paddington". "We will be calling at London Paddington only". "This train will divide at Swansea and the front five carriages will continue to to Carmarthen - you are in the front 5 carriages". Followed by a lilting Welsh voice from the train manager, apologising for the automated announcement system, confirming Swansea and telling us that it's the rear five beyond Swansea.Just left Reading at 10:38 - some reservations confusions.  I noticed as I joined the train that it started at "A" and when I got to front set it started again at "A".

Connection at Swindon - where I should have had 25 minutes - looks touch and go.  I suspect I WILL make it because this Carmarthen express has to use the same line as our more local train after Swindon.  No staff around to ask - coffee from he trolley but that passed very early - before we got held up - never to be seen again?  I suspect that the train manager is in the rear carriages and this is a train which does not provide a corridor between the sections.

At 11:02 we pulled into Swindon (22 minutes late). I noticed an announcement telling us to go to platform 2 for Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury.  Cheerful train manager asked if I was coming off "that one" as I walked briskly up and we left on time at 11:05.  28 passengers from Chippenham, 4 off and 5 on at Melksham, on time there.

 

So why can't the British (Treasury, DfT, GBR, TOCs or whoever) learn from the continental examples, as opposed to the rubbish that is normally dished up in this country. I have recently had somebody from SWR admit that the bicycle provision on their new Arterio sets don't really work.