West Somerset Railway General Discussion

YABU. As has been well explained already there simply is not currently the space within the BL site to provide a full restaurant service. If you are travelling for five hours there is plenty of opportunity for what you require along the way when you take a rest break. In any case the Lethbridge Arms, as previously stated, is a short walk away if you want a full breakfast. Anyone making a trip like that should do little pre journey planning and find out what facilities are available. You only have to look at the WSR and WSRA website to find out.

 

The pleasure of having bacon butties on the moving train in the countryside far outweighs missing a proper breakfast in Spooners, which I may add is excellent as we still do have breakfast in there on occasions.

That's fine for those travelling a short distance to the railway but not for those with a long journey to even reach Bishops Lydeard. For instance on March 17th 2018 we would have to catch the 0630 service from home to connect with the first service from Bishops Lydeard. And then wait another hour for a meal? No thank you.

 

How about breakfast on the 0630?

Maybe Kate could do bacon butties for you - drop her a line - details on WSRA website. Eat 'em on the moving train. Pleasure ensured.

Steve
(I'm another with a five hour journey to the Railway but lack of a cooked brekkie at Lydeard has never stopped me visiting the WSR)

 

Lets hope there will be when the Farm Site comes into use then! I think the railway is missing a big opportunity & source of income from a resteraunt outlet at BL .OK maybe a big financial outlay in the beginning but it could be made to pay with good management & a 'can do' attitude. Never mind the Lethbridge, why should people traips up there when they would'nt neet to? Plus the breakfasts on the train at galas. Other railways do it so why cant the WSR?

 

I am sure that breakfast on the Severn Valley Venturer is a worthwhile experience, and I hope to try this when their ASG comes along. Could you mention the most recent price charged for this? The info is still TBA on their website (not unreasonably in the preceding January), but I have breakfasted in the Kidderminster station dining room, and enjoyed it, although it is sometimes hard to find a seat between 8 and 9am.

There is no doubt that a hot breakfast, on the move or stationary, is a necessity for some travellers like myself. I often stay at Travelodges, and can get a really good room rate by booking six months ahead, much better than at Premier Inns which I also use. But most Travelodges do not provide dining-in facilities, hence my interest in this matter. B & Bs are a variable thing: sometimes excellent, sometimes forgettable (even the Trip Advisor reviews can be totally wrong).

For the WSR visits I use the Wellington Travelodge, since Taunton Travelodge traffic can be horrendous at peak times.

 

Barrie and I are constantly searching for ways to improve dining options on the WSR. We also know that we are not going to please all of the people all of the time. However, even small improvements count! Here is our list of priorities for next season before we can consider anything else, great though it is to discuss and dream!
1) Recruit more volunteers
2) Recruit more volunteers
3) Recruit more volunteers
Until we can do this, sadly all the rest is difficult. We have a small band of dedicated QB volunteers and were ably assisted by many of the buffet crew, without whom we would not have been able to run some of last seasons dining trains. Together they provided excellent service despite being small in number. We ran many of the trains well under staffed which is a credit to them all. It is a long, hard day for everybody and takes stamina. I cannot tell you how impressed I have been by all of them. To do more than we do, we need more people like them. Simple!

 

Thank you for what you do in the QB , Though I hav'nt been to the railway in a while I know the hard work that goes into it. Here's hoping that someone reading this will come along & volunteer!

 

That would be amazing....and very welcome

 

Jim, you obviously plan ahead.

Good idea!

I've never been there, but on the face of it, the Lethbridge Arms offers a better experience than the big chains.
Anybody with knowledge care to comment?

 

There really is no need to bang on any doors. I can see clearly there are only two/three tables and a facility for warming pasties, so I settle for a sandwich and a cuppa.
Robin L.

 

Don't make assumptions. I travel the day before the galas, and stay at a place near Taunton which doesn't do breakfasts. I am well aware of what facilities are and are not available, which is why I have a pasty on the train and an early lunch in MH.

 

So maybe having a word with the manager or one of the staff might help them understand your preferences? If you don't say anything how would they know? Please do have a word or drop a line. If more people do the same then maybe a business case can be built. If not there is no clear demand.

Steve

 

What about a passenger survey

 

Signalman’s Twilight

 

You seem to have oodles of room in your box. Enough to hold a dance! I'm used to just enough room to walk the frame.

 

Go Great Western!

 

I suppose I'd have more room if the frame were tighter to the back wall.

(If anyone doesn't recognise it, the name of the 'box is on the white book of route cards on the blockshelf)

 

You might want to ask for recomendations for B&Bs on here. A lot of volunteers use them.

 

But its nt Great Western its Bristol & Exeter