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Paddington to Penzance query

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Grace Roberts

Grace Roberts

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Hi everyone,
I am new to the forums and very glad to be here. I love all things to do with the railways and love traveling by train. But I have a question for you which is driving me crackers.

On August 18th, my sister and I boarded the 11.03 Penzance train at Paddington, platform One.
We were in coach A and facing the direction of travel as we left Paddington. I’m sure that somewhere along the line, we ended up back to direction of travel. This is confirmed by videos I made along the Devon coast and at Plymouth. I’m sure we aren’t imagining this.
Where then, would the train have reversed (if that’s the correct term) I know this happens at Ely but I cannot remember where, along this GWR route, this would have happened.

You’re my only hope of settling this once and for all before me and my sister end up completely doolally.

Thank you in advance.........
 
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Mag_seven

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Grace Roberts said:
Hi everyone,
I am new to the forums and very glad to be here. I love all things to do with the railways and love traveling by train. But I have a question for you which is driving me crackers.

On August 18th, my sister and I boarded the 11.03 Penzance train at Paddington, platform One.
We were in coach A and facing the direction of travel as we left Paddington. I’m sure that somewhere along the line, we ended up back to direction of travel. This is confirmed by videos I made along the Devon coast and at Plymouth. I’m sure we aren’t imagining this.
Where then, would the train have reversed (if that’s the correct term) I know this happens at Ely but I cannot remember where, along this GWR route, this would have happened.

You’re my only hope of settling this once and for all before me and my sister end up completely doolally.

Thank you in advance.........
Click to expand...

Its possible you reversed at Reading making use of the "triangle of junctions" there. This could have been due to a fault in the leading drivers cab.

Another possibility is that you were diverted via Yeovil, which would have seen the train reverse direction at Exeter St Davids.
 
Train Boy

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Grace Roberts said:
Hi everyone,
I am new to the forums and very glad to be here. I love all things to do with the railways and love traveling by train. But I have a question for you which is driving me crackers.

On August 18th, my sister and I boarded the 11.03 Penzance train at Paddington, platform One.
We were in coach A and facing the direction of travel as we left Paddington. I’m sure that somewhere along the line, we ended up back to direction of travel. This is confirmed by videos I made along the Devon coast and at Plymouth. I’m sure we aren’t imagining this.
Where then, would the train have reversed (if that’s the correct term) I know this happens at Ely but I cannot remember where, along this GWR route, this would have happened.

You’re my only hope of settling this once and for all before me and my sister end up completely doolally.

Thank you in advance.........
Click to expand...

I can see that on the 18th August, the 11:03 was due to stop at Castle Cary. It didn't in the end, so I assume there was disruption on that day. Unfortunately, I can find no more than that.
 
Grace Roberts

Grace Roberts

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Norwich
Mag_seven said:
Its possible you reversed at Reading making use of the "triangle of junctions" there. This could have been due to a fault in the leading drivers cab.

Another possibility is that you were diverted via Yeovil, which would have seen the train reverse direction at Exeter St Davids.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, Mag_seven. That sounds about right. I think it was possibly Reading as after leaving there, everything seemed to have been reversed. As we were in coach A and at the back of the train (at Paddington) it would be expected that we’d have to yomp to the buffet coach towards the front; but after Reading, all the coaches were ‘behind’ us if that makes sense.
It was very baffling and it’s kept me thinking for a week or two. Plus, coming back to London, there was no reverse direction.
Thanks for clearing that up. I can now sleep at night.....lol.
 
Grace Roberts

Grace Roberts

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Norwich
Train Boy said:
I can see that on the 18th August, the 11:03 was due to stop at Castle Cary. It didn't in the end, so I assume there was disruption on that day. Unfortunately, I can find no more than that.
Click to expand...
Yes, Train Boy. There was a question the train may be delayed at Paddington. It said on the screens that it was delayed ‘due to staffing levels’ or something. We hovered around the screens by the new taxi rank waiting for the ‘boarding’ announcement. Of course, it wasn’t delayed and left on time causing us to have to run like ******* from platform 12 round to 1 just making it in time.
We’d never been to Paddington before so we were unsure of what to do as we watched the screens. Didn’t even know how damn HUGE the station is. Never again!!!! What a pair of numptys.
Thanks again.
 
nw-sparks

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Mag_seven said:
Its possible you reversed at Reading making use of the "triangle of junctions" there. This could have been due to a fault in the leading drivers cab.

Another possibility is that you were diverted via Yeovil, which would have seen the train reverse direction at Exeter St Davids.
Click to expand...

A couple of good ideas but unfortunately the database doesn't show either of these, and I can see no reversal in the TRUST records:

http://www.charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/liverail/train/13776543/18/08/18
 
Grace Roberts

Grace Roberts

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All I can say folks is that somewhere along the route, we changed direction. I’d post my videos but I do t know how to yet.
We were in Coach A seats 21 and 22 facing the direction of travel. So as we boarded, the coach was nearest the back. As we progressed along both my sister and I went to the rear of the train (after Reading I think) and as we left our seats we went left to both the loo and the buffet car and not right as would be the case if things were still as they were leaving Paddington.
It’s not a matter of huge importance I know, but it’s baffled us for a week or two.
Anyway, thank you for the replies and your time in looking schedules up (they’re interesting) as it’s nice to look back on our journey.
 
30907

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By the time you reached the coast, were your seats on the seaward side?
 
Oscar46016

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Grace Roberts said:
All I can say folks is that somewhere along the route, we changed direction. I’d post my videos but I do t know how to yet.
We were in Coach A seats 21 and 22 facing the direction of travel. So as we boarded, the coach was nearest the back. As we progressed along both my sister and I went to the rear of the train (after Reading I think) and as we left our seats we went left to both the loo and the buffet car and not right as would be the case if things were still as they were leaving Paddington.
It’s not a matter of huge importance I know, but it’s baffled us for a week or two.
Anyway, thank you for the replies and your time in looking schedules up (they’re interesting) as it’s nice to look back on our journey.
Click to expand...

So you started off in the "back" coach and I presume you were on the Right Hand Side Facing Forwards?
 
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