Having written in praise of 'Wrexham & Shropshire: open access - the one that got away' last night to mark the four years since closure, I thought I would take a trip into my blog archive to see what memories my early posts would evoke...
My web site birmingham2london.com (now in abeyance) and this blog were inspired by the efforts that the W&S were making to break into the Birmingham to London market through the stop at Tame Bridge Parkway. In February 2010, I spent a week travelling First Class between the two cities on a variety of routes and services...
My first experience of the wonderful staff service on a W&S train was on my first day when travelling between Banbury & Leamington Spa. There was confusion on whether I was entitled to a meal but no hassle on being given something to eat (soup in this case). On the second day, I partook of the famed W&S breakfast and also wrote a rather snarky comment on the W&S claim to have four-star toilets...
In March, I traveled standard class for a week so of course marveled at the difference in comfort for the W&S as opposed to the other TOC offeirngs... see http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/tuesday-9th-march.html and http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/thursday-11th-march.html
In August, I sampled one of the 'Diverting with Doris' trains so warmly described in the book (p104-105) see http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/saturday-7th-august.html Happy days but surely financially ruinous...
In December I celebrated the use of W&S stock and staff for a new Chiltern service (see http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/going-first-class-with-chiltern-well.html) not realising what it was going to lead to!
A year on from the start of my blog came the end... http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/so-farewell-to-wrexham-shropshire.html It really was a good year but as the book makes clear one that was not sustainable. Thanks anyway to those who made it happen.
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