>> www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35241788
>>
>> 8o)
Looked better as 4472 in LNER Apple Green IMHO.
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.....I may be considered a philistine, but I always thought the addition of the double-chimney and (German-style) smoke-deflectors improved the looks of 60103.
...and I preferred the BR Green livery to LNER.
(Much of this may result in my regular exposure to it and sister-locomotives in my preferred state).
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>>In 1934 it earned a place in the record books as the first steam locomotive to achieve an authenticated 100mph run.<<
Harrumph.
A timing by Charles Rous-Marten 30 years earlier, allowing for error with a 1/5th second stopwatch, is authentic enough for me. My house used to overlook Wellington bank...
Last edited by: Mike Hannon on Fri 8 Jan 16 at 12:34
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Reported to have had at least 15 boilers, and I think they've renewed the chassis this time...starting to look like 'my grandad's axe'.... Still, a good effort nonetheless!!
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>> Reported to have had at least 15 boilers, and I think they've renewed the chassis
>> this time...starting to look like 'my grandad's axe'.... Still, a good effort nonetheless!!
>>
There's always scope for an interesting philosophical debate about the authenticity of "restoration" as applied to different artefacts.
Ancient scroll - you preserve the original fabric regardless of its condition. If that means it cannot actually be used, so be it.
Through to classic car - all parts can be replaced, from chassis upwards, to the point where not a single one is original any more. The only proviso is that it should be done gradually, as part of an ongoing maintenance and repair programme. That preserves its originality, both legally and emotionally. If you simply assembled an entire kit of remanufactured bits from a specialist and then stuck the old number plates on, it would be a replica not an original.
But if you were restoring an old garden by Capability Brown, none of the plants will be original. It is the design that is original, not the material reality.
There is a continuum between all these cases, making any individual example always a bit problematical. No one scraps a veteran car when its originality falls below a magic percentage. Last week it was the original 1908 record breaker. Now it is only a replica because they have had to replace a fan blade.
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Not my favourite loco. Over-hyped and a total money pit. SWM and I are going on a trial run a week tomorrow in a dining train hauled by the FS.
Could be pulled by anything, preferably LMS, for all I care but I'll try and get some film if I'm still sober.
A snippet of news in the Railway Magazine hints that the next one brought back to life will be the streamlined Duchess of Hamilton.............that will be something to see on it's home stamping ground with a set of matching coaches thrashing down Shap or Beattock. Sadly, the coaches are long gone !
s479.photobucket.com/user/1400ted/media/d%20of%20h/dofh.jpg.html
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>> on it's home stamping ground with a set of matching coaches thrashing down Shap or Beattock. Sadly, the coaches are long gone !
All blue to match the loco Ted?
I seem to remember sort of streamlined accordions between the carriages to reduce speed-sapping air eddies. Fabulous, evolved Victorian technology...
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>>
>> I seem to remember sort of streamlined accordions between the carriages to reduce speed-sapping air
>> eddies. Fabulous, evolved Victorian technology...
>>
>>
I was absolutely fascinated by those as a child, but also a bit scared. There were wobbly floorboards which slid over each other as the carriages moved around, so you had to mind your toes didn't get nipped, like getting off an old escalator.
It felt like being suddenly outside, in a kind of windy nomansland, outside the security of one carriage but not yet in the safety of the next. It was especially fun if the train went over a water trough at that moment.
When we went on long train journeys we always explored the whole train - first, third, buffet, dining car, sleeping car, and luggage van. There were often interesting things in there such as crated lifestock and baskets with cooing pigeons. Remember them being unloaded at rural stations?
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>> A snippet of news in the Railway Magazine hints that the next one brought back
>> to life will be the streamlined Duchess of Hamilton............
Nope, not a chance. The only streamline LMS loco you will get is the one at the NRM. The DoH still has a mainline ticket in its non streamlined guise.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 8 Jan 16 at 19:30
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>>
>> Not my favourite loco. Over-hyped and a total money pit.
Because its not LMS.
This is, without doubt, the most famous loco in the world. It has history like no other, toured the world, bankrupted several, held hostage, crashed modified and bodged. It is fitting that this loco, above any other, should be restored at any cost.
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It is
>> fitting that this loco, above any other, should be restored at any cost.
>>
Agreed; but from personal experience there was little option.
Back in the 1980's I worked as a volunteer at Great Central Railway, and was fortunate enough to travel on the footplate of both Flying Scotsman and Blue Peter when they were there together. Blue Peter rode like it was on a billiard table; Flying Scotsman like it was on a colliery siding not a decent length of almost level main line railway.
The common consensus of the shed crews was that it was absolutely knackered, which as you well know turned out to be the case, hence the cost.
As to the boilers; I'd doubt very much if there's any preserved standard-gauge locomotives in the UK (with the possible exception of a few late-built BR Standards) which still have the boiler they came out of the works with originally. You have to remember that they wear out.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Fri 8 Jan 16 at 20:29
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>> Reported to have had at least 15 boilers, and I think they've renewed the chassis
>> this time...starting to look like 'my grandad's axe'.... Still, a good effort nonetheless!!
Boiler swaps were common in BR days, LNER A1, A3 and A4 boilers were more or less interchangeable, and they were - often.
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>> Zero has probably noted this:
>>
>> www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35241788
>>
>> 8o)
His absence from this forum today is because he is on the road, currently residing in a travel lodge in Bury. Came up this morning to do a recce on East Lancs Railway locations, and on the way I dropped into Bury, not expecting much. And there in the deepening twightlight 4472* appeared.
With its Hun inspired Smoke deflectors, double chimney and in a matt black it looks stunning. really stunning
Early start tomorrow, the lineside will be rammed with people.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xw0ax0SltQ
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>>currently residing in a travel lodge in Bury.
...gosh, how the other half lives.........
...and some people deride holidaying in a motorhome motorcaravan campervan.
;-)
(actually, the Caravan Club site at Bury has a panoramic view of the ELR)
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>> (actually, the Caravan Club site at Bury has a panoramic view of the ELR)
Its currently a swamp. The camp site not the ELR.
Just about to have a boiling hot shower, turn up the heating a notch, makemeself a coffee and watch TV from my big double bed. All for 29 quid.
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>>Its currently a swamp.
Comme d'habitude.
>>Just about to have a boiling hot shower, turn up the heating a notch, makemeself a coffee >> and watch TV from my big double bed.
....sounds like my 'van (but more expensive)
;-)
Good luck with the shots tomorrow - the weather doesn't look encouraging, but it may be atmospheric.
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>> Good luck with the shots tomorrow - the weather doesn't look encouraging, but it may
>> be atmospheric.
Weather is not good either day, Tomorrow at least promises some sunny spots in-between the downpours. I held off this trip till the very last moment, checking on engineering progress*, likelihood of it actually running, and the weather. This morning I pushed the panic button and went.
*It has issue with the brakes. The air brake compressor is not working, so air pressure is being supplied by a black 5 to which it has been coupled.
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>> Its currently a swamp. The camp site not the ELR.
>>
>> Just about to have a boiling hot shower, turn up the heating a notch, makemeself
>> a coffee and watch TV from my big double bed. All for 29 quid.
Looks like mostly hardstanding pitches . While I'd probably take the shower in the washblock I can turn the caravan's heating up just as high. Coffee in a Travelodge? Two cups of instant with that disgusting UHF milk then it's cap in hand to reception for extra Nescafe. Hot Lava Java with fresh milk (or a range of other beverages) in a caravan. And a full meal to.
Caravan club wi-fi actually works too instead of having to tether your phone to do more than download a plain text email.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 8 Jan 16 at 19:56
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>> I can turn the caravan's heating up just as high.
So it then smells like a 3rd division rugby locker room
>> Coffee in a Travelodge? Two
>> cups of instant with that disgusting UHF milk then it's cap in hand to reception
>> for extra instant. Hot Lava Java (or a range of other beverages) in a caravan.
Coffee is courtesy Rambouts filters, brought my own. Could if i want toddle out for a Costa next door.
>> Caravan club wi-fi actually works too instead of having to tether your phone to do
>> more than download a plain text email.
I am on Travelodge wifi now, Uploaded the FS video on TL wifi.
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>> I am on Travelodge wifi now, Uploaded the FS video on TL wifi.
Last I used was in Southport about 18months ago. Rip off fee and it was one device only and too slow to catch a cold. Not for first time I went to town on feedback questionnaire pointing out WiFi now was where en-suite bogs were c1985 - no longer a premium but a basic requirement.
It's been free and reasonably fast in my preferred French chain - BB Hotels - for best part of 10yrs.
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>> So it then smells like a 3rd division rugby locker room
...unlike the Travelodge smelling like a Turkish bordello
.....not of course that I've, err, um.........
Is that the door, must go.......
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Re Flying Scotsman. I've just read on the BBC website that it is having a mainline run on Sat Jan 23rd, manchester to Carlisle over the Ribblehad viaduct. My part of the world! I fly out to Spain the 24th until late March, so have to decide whether to join friends in the Lakes for a planned days walking or stay at home, watch the steamer and have a few last minute beers.
I live a half mile from the Settle Carlisle line, and can see Settle station from my humble abode, as well as the best part of a mile of track. My next door neighbour works in the ticket office at Settle so will know the timings....anybody thinking of visiting the area let me know and I can recommend accommodations, eating places, etc.
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And he we go, back from my trip t'north
Ok, the timetable went to pot, the weather was alternately lousy and bearable, there were shed loads of people, traffic and parking was a pain, it was chaos and confusion, it was facing the wrong way for the best shots, I was cold wet and tired, and 4472s whistle was pathetic with a capital Pee
SO WHAT
It ran all day, the atmosphere trackside was fantastic - utterly unparalleled, and I was delighted to be there.
Here is my effort, Two very good in your face moments, one where the regulator is cranked open to give a hint of whats to come, and a glorious soundtrack at the end in the gloom of the A3 and the Black 5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5acLeLcnF8
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See what you mean about the whistle, heard better on colliery shunters.
I note with amusement that one thing certainly hasn't changed since my days as a working volunteer. There are far more people on t'other side of the fence, where presumably they don't have to pay, than there are on the platform where they probably do. Respect to you for being in the former category and contributing towards this sort of thing happening.
I confess to having a serious downer on gricers who spend zillions on cameras and lenses yet won't contribute a single penny towards the preserved railway's running costs. Parasites the lot of 'em; and often a damn nuisance from a safety angle.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Sun 10 Jan 16 at 10:53
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On the last shot, I chucked a tenner in the volunteers collecting bucket, and he let me on the wrong side, a kind of unofficial trackside permit.
They are very lax there about wrong siders, compared to other places, Like the MHR where is fort knox with dogs and farmers with shotguns. One farmer even shot down one gricers drone!
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 10 Jan 16 at 10:58
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Also, I have to say I was in places Like Irwin Vale, and Sommerseat, where they had had some really bad floods, washed away bridges, (sommerseat was where the pub over the river washed away) displaced people etc etc.
Without exception, despite the crowds, the traffic and the parking, the local and visitors were all very good humoured and gracious.
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...walked up the Irwell from Bury a couple of years ago, and the route went past the pub at Summerseat. Recognised it immediately when it was on the news.
There's something rather magnificently attractive about the (better preserved) industrial architecture in the Lancashire and Yorkshire valleys - a great pity to lose some of it.
...anyway, given musings elsewhere, back to more important things...;-)
...did you get to sample any of the local black-pudding?
(The new "superfood" - (apparently) - though I suspect it wasn't on the room-service menu in the Travelodge).
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>>
>> One farmer even shot down
>> one gricers drone!
>>
Chapeau!!
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Bit of a character.
Wonder what BBD would have to say......
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Did the S&C behind City of Wells many years back. Carlisle to Hellifield then change of loco to a Lord Nelson or King Arthur class to Preston.
Great day out
Still trying to find out the dress code for next Saturday's dining jaunt on the ELR. Loved the Hughes/Fowler Crab in early LMS livery. I have a model in this colour although it wasn't carried for very long.....Might buy a black one this year.
Last trip on the ELR over 20 yrs ago behind a Whistler to Rawtenstall
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>> On the last shot, I chucked a tenner in the volunteers collecting bucket, and he
>> let me on the wrong side, a kind of unofficial trackside permit.
>>
Good for you; as you're well aware running a preserved railway is not a cheap venture, especially these days with all the legal compliance they have to go through.. There's a lot of photographers though that think it's their inalienable right to stand where they like to get a decent picture regardless of the safety concerns; I've even on occasion chased them out of the four-foot as they're setting up a tripod when the train was less than 100 yards away.
We found by experience that the easiest way to deal with such folk was to go out armed with books of raffle tickets; the decent ones would buy some and take your advice on how far away to safely stand, but the hard-core would beat a swift retreat back behind the fence so as not to have to dip into their pockets!
Same types would always moan like hell about the wartime-themed events and Thomas the Tank Engine weekends, forgetting that it's such things which provide preserved lines with the income to keep them going.
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Thank you Zero. Takes me back a little. As a Nipper I managed to scrounge a very brief ride on the Footplate of one of the last trains from Cowley to Uxbridge. 1963-4 I think. My Aunt lived a stones throw from the track. Very happy memories.
Last edited by: MD on Sun 10 Jan 16 at 20:21
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>> Re Flying Scotsman. I've just read on the BBC website that it is having a
>> mainline run on Sat Jan 23rd, manchester to Carlisle over the Ribblehad viaduct.
Settle Jn
p 0908
Horton In Ribblesdale
p 0923
Ribblehead
p 0932
Blea Moor
p 0936
Garsdale
p 0949
Kirkby Stephen
p 1001
Appleby W
a 1014
d 1033
Kirkby Thore Signal Box
p 1041
Culgaith Signal Box LC
p 1044
Lazonby & Kirkoswald
p 1053
Low House Crossing S.B.
p 1100
Howe & Co Sdgs
p 1104 [2]
Petteril Bridge Jn
p 1111
Carlisle London Road Jn
p 1112
Carlisle
Platform 3 a 1115
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Thanks for that Zero. I saw my next door neighbour who works in Settle ticket office in the pub tonight so will give him the timings...he probably knows already. That leaves me time fir a decent walk in the Lakes or a final Sat afternoon on the lash with friends in Kirkby Lonsdale. Depends on the day's weather.
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There is some element of doubt about FS being ready. More will be known next friday.
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I might pop to see FS tomorrow at or near Burnley.
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>> I might pop to see FS tomorrow at or near Burnley.
I wouldn't do that if i were you, Its nowhere near Burnley tomorrow
You'll catch at Bury tho.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 15 Jan 16 at 22:43
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Could do worse than pick up some black pudding whilst you're there. Markets open 9 till 5 tomorrow... Market of the year 2015 I'll have you know.
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We're on the Red Rose diner tomorrow hauled by the Flying Moneypit.
I'll raise my champagne glass to you as we pass !
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I think Burnley must have been on my mind because of their win in the football earlier.
Yes I meant Bury. Although Rawtenstall is near Burnley.
Plan is to get there early enough to do the markets. Might see the train on the way back from Rawtenstall to Heywood and then see if back in Bury before it departs for Rawtenstall again.
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I wonder how busy it will be at Bury too. They want £5 to get on the platform but I think it might be a bit busy for my father in law. And you could see it outside near the Trackside bar:
tinyurl.com/track-sidebar
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>> I wonder how busy it will be at Bury too. They want £5 to get
>> on the platform but I think it might be a bit busy for my father
>> in law. And you could see it outside near the Trackside bar:
>>
>> tinyurl.com/track-sidebar
>>
Can undestand your concern regarding father-in-law, but please see my comments above to Zero regarding supporting preserved railways.
I'd politely suggest that a fiver is not unreasonable in a case like this.
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I dropped my wife and her dad off outside/nearby (station carpark unsurprisingly full) and parked elsewhere. My wife got the tickets and I walked to the station in plenty of time.
As you say the money goes to help with costs for preserved railways etc. Many people on the other platform could see it as well but didn't have to pay. It was very busy to start with with people getting off/on. Some nearly missed it too.
Disappointed at first that FS was facing the wrong way.... but where we were stood it meant the view of the FS was better than if it was the right way.
Diesel at the back of the train... I wonder how much help that was providing?
Last edited by: rtj70 on Sat 16 Jan 16 at 18:22
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>> Diesel at the back of the train... I wonder how much help that was providing?
Electric carriage heating only this weekend so a mobile generator and a test load to pull. Last weekend it was providing some shove, air for the brakes, and a warning hooter.
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Top class 4 course meal on board tonight. Champagne on arrival, lovely steak. FS brought another train in on the other platform and disgorged it's passenger then went out of the station and crossed over back onto ours. Went to Rawtenstall tender first in fairly heavy snow.
Bottle of Veuve Clicquot (sp?) waiting for SWM and me. Drank the best part of a good bottle of red with the meal and brought the trampagne home.
Altogether a fine experience. I commend it to you as a treat.
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Chatting to a friend of mine in the pub late afternoon today who works as a volunteer stoker on steamers. He tells me that FS is doing a run from Carnforth down the Morecambe-Leeds line this Wednesday. Via Giggleswick, Hellifield then on to Preston? No timings, but some technical problem involving air with FS at the moment. A bit hazy on the detail due to taking refreshment since 2:30 and as it was snowing heavily we decided to stay put rather than go home then venture out again later!
Other steamers are on standby for Saturday ' just in case'.
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>> FS is doing a run from
>> Carnforth down the Morecambe-Leeds line this Wednesday. Via Giggleswick, Hellifield then on to Preston? No
>> timings,
Bury (Heywood) to Carnforth on Tuesday -
www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50615/2016/01/19/advanced
Loaded high speed test run Carnforth to Carnforth Wednesday
www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P80045/2016/01/20/advanced
Return to Bury Wednesday night
www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50616/2016/01/20/advanced
>> but some technical problem involving air with FS at the moment. A bit hazy
>> on the detail
A problem with the compressed air pump for the braking system, was fixed last Wednesday by stealing one from a loco currently under rebuild at Crewe. Running this weekend with air in the pipe supplied by support loco, this weekend with its own air.
>> Other steamers are on standby for Saturday ' just in case'.
Wednesday is for its MOT test!
Railway Group Standard GM/RT2003 (Certification Requirements for Registration of Steam Locomotives ) states:
"5.1.9 Following completion of the overhaul and examinations and prior to the first commercial operation on Railtrack controlled infrastructure, a Steam Locomotive shall be subject to a trial run. This shall normally be of at least 50 miles in length, depending on the class of locomotive and include continuous running at the maximum permissible operating speed of the
locomotive in the formation being operated during the trial. The objective of the trial is to demonstrate to the Certification Body that the locomotive is capable of operating safely at the speeds and loads at which it is intended to be operated on Railtrack controlled infrastructure. " The full document can be found at: www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/gmr ... ss%201.pdf
Two Riley Black 5's on hot standby just in case it fails.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 17 Jan 16 at 08:42
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edit - I meant of course
Ran last weekend with air in the pipe supplied by support loco, this weekend with its own air.
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Thanks Zero
I shall stroll down to Giggleswick station weds lunchtime & watch it pass
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>> Thanks Zero
>> I shall stroll down to Giggleswick station weds lunchtime & watch it pass
stay tuned, rumour mill says that schedule may all be pushed back one day.
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>> >> Thanks Zero
>> >> I shall stroll down to Giggleswick station weds lunchtime & watch it pass
>>
>> stay tuned, rumour mill says that schedule may all be pushed back one day.
Rumour mill now now buzzing with news that Flying Scotsman is not ready will be a no show for the run on Saturday.
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>> >> >> Thanks Zero
>> >> >> I shall stroll down to Giggleswick station weds lunchtime & watch it pass
>> >>
>> >> stay tuned, rumour mill says that schedule may all be pushed back one day.
>>
>>
>> Rumour mill now now buzzing with news that Flying Scotsman is not ready will be
>> a no show for the run on Saturday.
Rumour mill was right. FS has been pulled from this Saturdays tour, and there will be no mainline test run this week.
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Zero... Thanks for the update. I had arranged to walk the 40 mins to Gigg station with friends. Now cancelled. Appreciated.
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>> Chatting to a friend of mine in the pub late afternoon today who works as
>> a volunteer stoker on steamers.
FIREMAN! Stokers work on ships and stationary boilers.
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>> >> Chatting to a friend of mine in the pub late afternoon today who works
>> as
>> >> a volunteer stoker on steamers.
>>
>> FIREMAN! Stokers work on ships and stationary boilers.
And a stream engine has a chimney not a funnel.
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>>
>> And a stream engine has a chimney not a funnel.
>>
....neither does it have an "r"........
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...one of my "treasured" possessions is an original copy of the British Transport Commission "Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen".
It was issued in 1957 (the date of publication) to a Driver Pearson at Boston MPD, and may or may not have entered my possession by nefarious means.
I can confirm it mentions neither "stoking" or "funnel" in any of their forms.
;-)
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He probably got rid of it, because by 1962 they had issued the "British Railways Diesel Traction Manual for Enginemen" of which I have a near perfect copy on my shelves, a fascinating tome that covers the theory and operation of all types of diesel engine, transmissions (hydraulic, mechanical and electrical), generators and their control and circuits, braking systems, etc etc.
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Now, had i been able to predict the weather, this is the scene I would have traveled up for, had I not done it last week
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce9LmRHdsL0
FS, in Black, In the snow.
If there is snow next weekend I am sooooooooooo tempted to get up to the north west for the run.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 17 Jan 16 at 13:15
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There is some justification for 'stokers'
I have a book by Sir Francis Head, dated 1849, titled 'Stokers and pokers' or 'The London & North Western Railway, The Electric Telegraph and The Railway Clearing House'
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Currently esconced in my local in Gigg. Snowing hard at the moment. It won't last... Gone by Thursday. Bitterly cold on the tops today.
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>>Currently esconced in my local in Gigg.
35 degrees.
By the pool.
Large (very) G&T
Just sayin'
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....but no Flying Scotsman..........
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>> >>Currently esconced in my local in Gigg.
>>
>> 35 degrees.
>> By the pool.
>> Large (very) G&T
>>
>> Just sayin'
>>
Its 5c and damp, Just been for a long walk in a muddy field, the dog says that will do for her and you can poke your 35c.
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9° and dry here. Still wearing shorts. Bin out with the dogs, Pointer orf lead - runs like the wind. Message ends.
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Crackin day for a walk. Plenty of snow on the ground, sub zero temps, decent long distance views. Ideal weather for down jackets, hats & gloves. People out sledging....farmers children have had a great day, dragged around snow covered fields by 4x4s. On sledges. Not by the neck.
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It has been a beautiful day in Norfolk. Went for a walk along the cliffs at Cromer. About twenty surfers in the water enjoying the rough sea conditions. Would never have thought Norfolk would be seen as a surfing destination but it has become quite popular. The hang gliding fraternity were out too enjoying the calm winds and the sunshine. Everything looked good with the world.
The beer was good in the Red Lion too!
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I'm jealous, I like Cromer and we're almost as far from the sea here as its possible to get. Were there kitesurfers too?
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Vastly underrated bit of the country North Norfolk, And I am pleased it is. The beaches, like brancaster, are stunning.
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>> Vastly underrated bit of the country North Norfolk, And I am pleased it is. The
>> beaches, like brancaster, are stunning.
Unfortunately not quite far enough from London to deter the second home buyers; but one of my favourite areas too.
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>> Vastly underrated bit of the country North Norfolk
A part of England i'd never visited until we took the caravan to Ludham Bridge in October 2014. We were blessed with a week of 'Indian Summer' which made it even better but Cley Marshes nature reserve, beaches and walks from various staithes kept us fully occupied for a week.
The radar museum was a day well spent t oo.
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Used to live down that way, roads out to the coast from KL were chocca block in the summer. Nearest decent beaches to us now are in Norfolk. I think sunny hunny was the best, used to go all the time in the summer.
Last edited by: sooty123 on Sun 17 Jan 16 at 20:25
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>> >> Vastly underrated bit of the country North Norfolk
>>
>> A part of England i'd never visited until we took the caravan to Ludham Bridge
>> in October 2014.
The Caravan Club? One of the least picturesque and a bit windswept but like it for its location as a base. The cafe by the bridge isn't bad IIRC.
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Kite surfing is popular on the wide flat beach eastof Hunstanton. Cromer is an easy drive from Norwich so tends to be a favourite of a few hours by the sea. I like its Victorian charm. Zero is right, there are great beaches in North Norfolk. Holkham is probably one of the best beaches in England. Off to Cley later in the week for a spot of bird watching.
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Stayed at Swaffham at new year. It was suggested we drive to Wells on new years day to walk the sea wall. Couldn't find anywhere to park in town and was told there's plenty of space at the beach end. Joined a queue that slowly worked its way down the road, only to be confronted with a 'car park full' sign - why the hell couldn't they've put it a mile up the damn road?
Did go up the wind turbine in Swaffham (it's got a viewing platform at the top) - 300-odd steps up a spiral staircase!
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>> Joined a queue that slowly
>> worked its way down the road, only to be confronted with a 'car park full'
>> sign - why the hell couldn't they've put it a mile up the damn road?
because it wasn't full when you started on your mile journey?
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Pair of black 5 chuffers just gone past my place... Forgotten all about the cancelled FS run until I heard the whistle as they passed through Settle station.
Nice day for a trip up the Settle-Carlisle. Decent viz, dry, and some patches of blue.
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>> Pair of black 5 chuffers just gone past my place... Forgotten all about the cancelled
>> FS run until I heard the whistle as they passed through Settle station.
>> Nice day for a trip up the Settle-Carlisle. Decent viz, dry, and some patches of
>> blue.
You'll not be getting much past your place for a while
www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/latest/Rail-route-will-now-be-closed-for-weeks--c8e2ef4b-2ac5-48ea-8766-9f466b05f7f2-ds
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When I ever set up for a shot, my thoughts always turn to this bloke
www.youtube.com/watch?v=16kCRTFJr04
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>>Watch to the end...
Holy Jesus!!!
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Ok - this is the real thing,
After a light test run, and loaded test run on thursday.......
Flying Scotsman is heading a fully loaded (10 mk1s + pax hanging out the windows, Diesel dragging on the back) 75 mph in places test run today
Carnforth d 11:24
Oxenholme 11:43
Tebay 11:59
Penrith 12:21
Carlisle 12:41
Carlisle p3 14:25
Low House 14:45
Culgaith 15:04
Appleby a 15:16 water d 15:37
Kirkby Stephen 15:56
Garsdale 16:09
Blea Moor 16:20
Ribblehead 16:23
Settle Jn 16:36
Hellifield GLs a 16:43 water d 17:00
Clitheroe 17:24
Blackburn a 17:49 d 17:52
Lostock Hall Jn 18:07
Farington Jn 18:11
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 6 Feb 16 at 09:47
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Looks like it will be a bad year for chuffers. The company that operates most of them has just been banned, again. It might be some time before they return. There is one company left, and they only crew about 10% of all runs. Luckily they are the ones who will be crewing Flying Scotsman's inaugural run next Thursday. Bad news is, currently the wheels are off with a bearing problem, and it might not be fit anyway.
Could be the worse 4 million pounds ever spent.
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Is there a link to ban/reasons Z. Stories about the operator rather remind me of the inquiry verdict after Herald of Free Enterprise.....
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Programme on BBC4 tonight, 1/01/17, at 21:00 FS:From the footplate
Last edited by: legacylad on Sun 1 Jan 17 at 19:50
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I wonder if the dt would give a report that said everything was okay similar coverage?
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Having had three dreadful days on the rails in the south, people in the north should be screaming for any benefit that they might gain from HS2!
Even Morocco can do it..... (Wikipedia)
tinyurl.com/j8ctpcu
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>> Even Morocco can do it..... (Wikipedia)
>>
Proof that we need a Moroccan style government, planning laws, and non-union labour force.
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>> >> Even Morocco can do it..... (Wikipedia)
>> >>
Progress to mid-December 2016
www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=538347&page=13
Last edited by: BrianByPass on Fri 30 Dec 16 at 17:46
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I'm sure the Chinese would be even more effective.
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>> I'm sure the Chinese would be even more effective.
Indeed, being able to quickly bury the wreckage and bodies resulting from your substandard construction and operation is a great help
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>> Having had three dreadful days on the rails in the south, people in the north
>> should be screaming for any benefit that they might gain from HS2!
>>
>> Even Morocco can do it..... (Wikipedia)
The French are doing it for them. Having sand and camels as your only hindrance to route planning goes some way to help.
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Wouldn't like to hit a camel in an HST doing 300 MPH....snades of Polmont !
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Who keeps giving Zero scowly's? A bit harsh methinks.
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>> A bit harsh methinks>>
..and childish and utterly pathetic.
Happy New Year Z.
Pat
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>> Wouldn't like to hit a camel in an HST doing 300 MPH....snades of Polmont !
No problem, the front of a TGV is nice and sharp, the camel is nice and high with spindly legs, at 300 MPH it would be just like a high speed dromedary abattoir.
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A Stanier 8F was derailed by a camel....presumably in the Middle East. The engine survived and is still with us as the Royal Engineers Memorial loco.
I don't suppose the camel fared as well !
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Brings back memories of working on the north Yorkshire moors Railway back in the 1990's. Sheep on the line were an occupational hazard; and as most of you who've driven in the countryside will know, they don't run for the hedge or verge but try to out-run the pursuing vehicle. Normal result Train 1 Sheep 0.
One such unfortunate animal met its maker, the crew bunged the carcass in the tender and brought it back to Grosmont where they placed it in the firebox doors of the next day's rostered loco; fireman turned up at 4am to light the engine and it frightened the crap out of him!
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Talking of knocking down camels, I nearly did exactly that out in the desert. Appeared from behind a line of trucks that were parked up in the road. Slammed all on, managed to stop about a foot short of it! No ABS just a very strong smell of burnt rubber and a touch nervous for the rest of the trip...
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The costs in the UK baffle me. HS1 in the UK cost £80m per mile. In France a similar scheme cost £22m per mile - why the difference - is it land costs or just inefficiency?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Speed_1 (see building cost)
Same with a local link road. 3 miles long, all single carriage way, mostly along farmland or railway lines decommissioned by Beeching! Cost £110 million!!!
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>> The costs in the UK baffle me. HS1 in the UK cost £80m per mile.
>> In France a similar scheme cost £22m per mile - why the difference - is
>> it land costs or just inefficiency?
Land cost is one but don't forget we have to have rounds of consultations, appeals, reviews, court cases etc that all last for about two decades beforehand.
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>> Land cost is one but don't forget we have to have rounds of consultations, appeals,
>> reviews, court cases etc that all last for about two decades beforehand.
The need for the long tunnel section from St Pancras to Stratford and the infrastructure where the line crosses the Thames would have pushed up costs too. Also the nature of our privatised railway with it's huge legal/contractual overhead is another factor.
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Also the nature
>> of our privatised railway with it's huge legal/contractual overhead is another factor.
>>
My best friend, now retired, was a civil engineering senior manager on the major West Coast Main Line upgrade some years ago. A lifelong railwayman, he started as a cleaner at Nine Elms in steam days and finished as a passed fireman before going to uni as a mature student so he had a pretty thorough grounding in the job.
Les told me a few tales of how substantial sums of money came to be spent on relatively trivial things; the one that sticks out in my mind was when they had to de-hire a set of temporary offices at the end of the contract. The cabins had to be spruced up with a quick paint job before being returned; what should, in Les' opinion have cost no more than about five hundred quid rapidly became well over five thousand by the time all the H&S and environmental procedural boxes had been ticked. The sheer amount of bureaucracy, form-filling and jobsworthness (his word) was staggering.
This of course is just the tip of the iceberg. It has to be said that compared to a generation ago, the railway industry has an admirable safety record today, and so it should; but this has come at huge financial cost, the tab for which of course inevitably gets picked up by the taxpayer.
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Tornado is steaming along the Settle -Carlisle for three consecutive days in Feb. At least the section which is open after the huge landslip. Flying Scotsman officially reopens the full route in March, so should get a grandstand view from my house. Or I might even walk up to the Helwith Bridge pub and have a few beers whilst waiting
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Indeed it is, its the first "scheduled service" steam service since 1968
Its been hired by Northern Rail, 14th, 15th, 16th, February, Skipton-Settle-Appleby and return
No firm timetable detail available yet.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 25 Jan 17 at 15:38
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Chuffers - Bromptonaut
