Misc steam railway, traction, station and rail-related news

[hash tag]

End of the line for Brutalist Brummie signal box

The Brutalist building's nerve centre has been helping to keep rail passengers safe since the 1960s.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[StoneRoad]

End of the line for Brutalist Brummie signal box

The Brutalist building's nerve centre has been helping to keep rail passengers safe since the 1960s.

www.bbc.co.uk

That building is one ugly bugger ...

Although I have zero objection to updating the signalling network from the safety point of view, what I do object to is individual power boxes controlling vast swathes of the network.
The risk of serious disruption when - not if - there's a fault, in for example the power supply.
[I recall exactly that happening at BNS and it was a major problem as nowt could move for quite a while ... and I've been stuck for what feels like ages in the approach tunnels on more than one occasion for other minor problems].

 

[editor]

I'm sure some of you will understand the deep sudden joy that happens when you unexpectedly hear the sound of a steam engine passing by.

I paid a visit to Battersea Power Station but seeing this train go by was the best bit of the night!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Mike Ashworth on Flickr has some documents from a proposed north-south London 'crossrail' for inter city trains that was floated in 1980 (before Thameslink came along)

including an artists impression of an APT (apparently dual voltage version) at East Croydon

 

[hash tag]

And now for something seasonal .

 

[editor]

And now for something seasonal .

Loved that!

 

[hash tag]

There is NO Great Dorset this year. That's a regular must do for me n Mrs tag. Absolutely gutted

Home - The Great Dorset Steam Fair

www.gdsf.co.uk

 

[StoneRoad]

There is NO Great Dorset this year. That's a regular must do for me n Mrs tag. Absolutely gutted

Home - The Great Dorset Steam Fair

www.gdsf.co.uk

I know, I'm in a similar mood, as it would have been the first year that I should have been able to go.

 

[StoneRoad]

On a different note ...
I've just read another, very good dissertation on the subject of the modern version of ovoids as a coal replacement.

[I'll add the reference when I've got the rag in question back in my hands]

 

[editor]

Maybe that fire might turn out to be a good thing:

Campaigners are raising funds to restore a derelict historical railway station that they believe could be "a great asset".
Lydd Railway Station in Kent closed to passengers in 1967.
The station on Romney Marsh is now missing its roof after it was gutted by a fire in November.
Network Rail said it worked to find potential new stations but Lydd was "not currently a location we're actually pursuing".
Andy Nash of the Lydd Station Heritage Group said: "We're hoping to first save the building, and do something for local people. Maybe a drop-in centre, a café, maybe even a museum."
"The whole site could be a great asset to the town.

Lydd Railway Station: Campaigners seek to restore derelict building

Lydd Railway Station closed to passengers in 1967 and was gutted by a fire in November.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[editor]

Disco trains for football fans!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

landslip at hook, hants

more here

 

[platinumsage]

Construction is due to start on Cambridge's third station, Cambridge South, five years after the completion of its second station, Cambridge North.

Cambridge South station - Network Rail

The Department for Transport published a Strategic Outline Business Case in November 2017 for a new railway station in the south of Cambridge.

www.networkrail.co.uk

 

[editor]

Very impressive video showing the in-progress East Linton station although the lack of shelter on the station is a bit disappointing.

Construction starts on East Linton station

Work is now underway to build the new East Linton station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[hash tag]

Construction halted on Liverpool Street Station?

Liverpool Street Station: Griff Rhys Jones leads fight against works

The comedian is announced as the president of a campaign to stop a "harmful" redevelopment.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Hollis]

What's not to like:

 

[hash tag]

I am not a great fan of the tube but what an inspiring story

The Londoner who visited every Tube station before he loses mobility

Former bouncer Ben Spencer has managed to visit all 272 Tube stations before he loses his mobility.

www.bbc.co.uk

Interesting pick for favourite station

 

[Bus Honeygun]

France looking to follow Germany's €49 offer with a national public transport ticket:

France aims to introduce national ticket by 2025

French transport minister, Clément Beaune, has led a competition to select parties to develop a national public transport ticket concept.

www.railjournal.com

 

[hash tag]

A hovertrain which might go on display Two Hovertrains Unceremoniously Parked Along a Colorado Road

 

[Bus Honeygun]

Just a rather epic shot from Bernhard Friedrich of torpedo wagons being shunted at the ThyssenKrupp plant in Duisburg:

 

[cybershot]

Ok proper nerdy question, is there any easy way to find out what routes/times a class 37 is on, on the mainline. RTT doesn't seem to give loco numbers for most freight or STP services?

 

[Dogsauce]

Ok proper nerdy question, is there any easy way to find out what routes/times a class 37 is on, on the mainline. RTT doesn't seem to give loco numbers for most freight or STP services?

Facebook groups might help, there is one for test trains gen and also a class 37 group (though the latter is mainly photos, but might point you at where they’re currently working). There’s also the WNXX website which requires a subscription but details a lot of loco hauled stuff.

At the moment it’s mainly test trains and scrap moves (towing various old EMUs to sims metals at Newport Docks to go through the train shredder - check for ‘Newport Docks (Simsgroup)’ on realtime trains for when these run, usually class 37 but the odd other traction such as class 57 or 66 have worked in). For the scrap moves, these will also be mentioned on the south west Yahoo group here as the destination is in this territory, check here for details (they’ll also report test trains in the region, there’s a class 37 one detailed there today, 37116). Posts will usually identify the loco and provide a RTT link.

SW-SWRG@groups.io | Messages

groups.io

There’s also a similar U.K. wide Yahoo group, but harder to spot amongst other messages. 37800 (aka the ‘grim reaper’) is reported at Gascogne Wood near Selby today so a fair chance that’ll be towing an EMU or two down to Newport soon unless it’s been taking stuff there for storage. Sometimes these workings go via London.

main@UK-Rail.groups.io | Messages

uk-rail.groups.io

 

[cybershot]

Facebook groups might help, there is one for test trains gen and also a class 37 group (though the latter is mainly photos, but might point you at where they’re currently working). There’s also the WNXX website which requires a subscription but details a lot of loco hauled stuff.

At the moment it’s mainly test trains and scrap moves (towing various old EMUs to sims metals at Newport Docks to go through the train shredder - check for ‘Newport Docks (Simsgroup)’ on realtime trains for when these run, usually class 37 but the odd other traction such as class 57 or 66 have worked in). For the scrap moves, these will also be mentioned on the south west Yahoo group here as the destination is in this territory, check here for details (they’ll also report test trains in the region, there’s a class 37 one detailed there today, 37116). Posts will usually identify the loco and provide a RTT link.

SW-SWRG@groups.io | Messages

groups.io

There’s also a similar U.K. wide Yahoo group, but harder to spot amongst other messages. 37800 (aka the ‘grim reaper’) is reported at Gascogne Wood near Selby today so a fair chance that’ll be towing an EMU or two down to Newport soon unless it’s been taking stuff there for storage. Sometimes these workings go via London.

main@UK-Rail.groups.io | Messages

uk-rail.groups.io

Awesome. Thanks.

 

[teuchter]

Ok proper nerdy question, is there any easy way to find out what routes/times a class 37 is on, on the mainline. RTT doesn't seem to give loco numbers for most freight or STP services?

Which part of the country and what day?

 

[Mumbles274]

Reminds me this popped up on face book from a few years ago

 

[cybershot]

Which part of the country and what day?

West Midlands. Day. Weekends (no chance I know) or days when I can use my lunch break. Water Orton is not far away and a freight hot spot but would rather go having a clue rather than hope for the best approach.

 

[Mumbles274]

Fancy living in a railway carriage originally used to build a power station, now a house next to said power station. On a spit of shingle that sticks out into the channel, where it's technically a desert, has no solid foundation so cash only please. Here ya go!!

Check out this 2 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom detached house for sale in Dungeness Road, Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9NB , TN29 for £675,000. Marketed by Phillips and Stubbs, Rye

www.rightmove.co.uk

 

[mx wcfc]

Fancy living in a railway carriage originally used to build a power station, now a house next to said power station. On a spit of shingle that sticks out into the channel, where it's technically a desert, has no solid foundation so cash only please. Here ya go!!

View attachment 363454View attachment 363455View attachment 363456View attachment 363457View attachment 363458View attachment 363459

Check out this 2 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom detached house for sale in Dungeness Road, Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9NB , TN29 for £675,000. Marketed by Phillips and Stubbs, Rye

www.rightmove.co.uk

HOW MUCH?!!!!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

HOW MUCH?!!!!

^ that

 

[Mumbles274]

I know how much it was purchased for too. £7000

It was just a carriage at that point it has to be said, more like a beach hut, just an outside toilet. Apparently you can see a picture of it in one of the photos on the right move page, as in, a photo on one of the walls