Super meal on Transport for Wakes

A slight change of plan

 This morning I checked my trains for the day and found the return from Cardiff was no longer first-class. A later train was, but how to spend the extra 2 hours? Found I could go to Neath and back and then get the later return to Manchester. 

Photo just before the loss of power

Arrived Piccadilly station in good time. My Transport for Wales (AW) train arrived on time and we all embarked. At the moment of departure all the lights went off. Later we were informed of an engine fault and the driver was trying to restart it. Eventually we departed Manchester 43min late. As it was a morning train we were offered breakfast. I had a full Welsh and coffee

Breakfast 

Before Shrewsbury we were told this would become an express so passengers for intervening stations should get off and get the stopper behind us. At Hereford they reversed this decision because the stopper behind us was so full. 

Shrewsbury station. Old semaphore signals

River Wye, Hereford

tree near Tram Inn

River Usk, Newport

Arrived Cardiff 30min late. I didn't have time to catch the Neath train. I remembered an Ausie pub called The Walkabout opposite the hotel I was in 3years ago so decided to go there. It's now a Weatherspoons named The Great Western. 

The Great Western pub, ex-TheWalkabout

Had a couple of drinks (the breakfast was quite filling) and returned to the station for the 1653. Good seat and it departed on time. As on the way to Cardiff tea and coffee were free but he said there was a chef on board so would I like an meal.

And what a meal. Chicken liver pate to start then a perfectly cooked salmon fillet with mashed potatoes and peas. The cheeseboard was excellent, the best I've had for many years and so tasty because it wasn't served straight from the fridge. I praised them.

starter

main

desert

The AW first-class accommodation looks good but isn't as comfortable as it looks because the seats are slippery and I found myself sliding forwards most of the time. The train to Cardiff had curtains - useful as it was a very sunny day, but nowhere to hang a coat or jacket. The train to Manchester was, strangely, the reverse as it had coat hooks but no curtain or blind and the sun was uncomfortably bright as it went towards the western horizon.

Back to the hotel to write this. Tomorrow I'm off to Dundee.