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APOLLO

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Posts posted by APOLLO

  1. Ahh, Commentary, like the legendary Eddie Waring, whose famous lines were

     

    “Up ‘n’ under”,

    “Ee’s gone for the early bath”,

    ”It’s a full coat colder on the East Coast”

    “You’re looking at one ton of rugby – meat, brawn, muscle, brain – the lot of it”

    ”It’s a knockout”

    ”Stop your kidding Australia”

    “Eeee, he’s a pocket battleship.”

    “This lad’s a butcher – but I’ve never had any of his meat.”

     

    And his classic

     

    "As the shadows grow longer" spoken during a floodlit night match !!!

     

    Brit15

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  2. One for the Ozzies.

     

    The other week sat in the living room with my laptop (as now), wife flicking through the chanels on TV, up came a live rugby league match, Wigan V Penrith, who the hell is Penrith I said?, they don't play RL (Thinking Penrith up north in Cumberland). Then it dawned it was the World Cup challenge match !!! Dooooohh - dozy me. Yes Wigan won.

     

    Of course years ago I would have been there cheering Wigan on - after all I went to Wembley 8 consecutive years 1998 - 95, and saw Wigan win 8 times on the trot (and then loose against Sheffield just after !!!). We always used the special trains, Wigan NW to Wembley Central, often two or more trains ran, always full, never an ounce of trouble, very happy days.

     

    Somehow I have lost interest over the last years, the demise of Central Park (named after The Great Central Railway who sold the land to the club after the planned extension north from Wigan Central was dropped), the soul less new stadium, mates gone over the years etc.

     

    I must "try" harder !!!

     

    Brit15

     

     

    • Friendly/supportive 3
  3. I always liked the old NE region colours of light blue & white with orange nameboards. Many of there colour light signals with long hoods were distinctive to the region also. I have one of the last NE region timetables with an orange cover, from 1967 if I remember. Not very thick compared to others !!

     

    2013-01-09-20-52-14.jpg.1794d9848b455124dda674db942e065e.jpg

     

    Brit15

     

     

    • Like 10
  4. Buckingham is a superb layout I have been a fan of since the 1960's. I'm glad it still exists.

     

    I still have the Railway Modeller "Denny Special" in which his gas works always intrigued me - perhaps persuading me to join "The North Western Gas Board" as an apprentice technician at Wigan gas works back in 1969. Peter's method of making gas holders got me into bother with my mum, laminating / gluing layers of cardboard round two cooking pans of differing diameter !!!!

     

    Other layouts that fascinated me in the 60's were Frank Dyers "Borchester" and David Jenkinsons S&C layouts, often mentioned on here.

     

    Here is another short interesting passenger train on my O gauge layout.

    Lead Loco is an Atlas F9 painted by me

    B unit is a home made unit from two A units, still awaiting final painting / lettering

     

    CSET1.jpg.e8398cf22e0f8f27188e122ddb51c38a.jpg

     

    The Baggage car is a Williams cast resin body, painted & finished by me.

     

    CSET2.jpg.1f47a0118bcd68cfc2ac580eddc9b985.jpg

     

    The green combine is a La Belle wood kit, nicely built and finished, an ebay bargain.

     

    CSET3.jpg.0a00b5fc36f0c23a41103a1783df47d2.jpg

     

    Finally the last coach I bought as an unfinished home made shell from Norman Wissendens shop many years ago. It was glazed and painted but needed a roof, interior, bogies and couplings. The roof is a solid piece of wood, the observation end needs a bit more sanding / filling. Finished in Southern Pacific "Daylight" livery, just needs lettering. Interior seats etc from a Bachman Underground Ernie building !!!

     

    CSET9.jpg.12243de6a0a6ae290cdddcc0c084a331.jpg

     

    The prototype had a flatish roof.

    s-l1200.webp

     

    Such short, mixed consist trains were common up to the 60's or so all over the USA. 

     

    Brit15

    • Like 14
  5. 2 hours ago, rowanj said:

     Either way, it's a good excuse to run something different on my railway....

     

    And that comment opens a whole new subject - running strange, unusual but prototypical trains (long or perhaps preferably short). Mix of stock / loco power etc. Anyone run them ? - I do on occasions. One offs though (as per prototype).

     

    Here's one, on the high mine branch where it should not be - a test run !!

     

    CSET7.jpg.a6d1c9f76f0578d83ba304474a07e36b.jpg

     

    Loco is a Rock Island (ex Union Pacific) F Unit as per prototype. The Coach (Combine) is a presumed hand built ebay bargain as is the Caboose / Flanger. An odd assortment but a short train that, to me, "looks right".

     

    Brit15

    • Like 8
  6. July 1971, age 19, steam hunting in Germany, first stop Hamburg.

     

    We spied this Deutsche Reichsbahn loco on a Berlin bound train and I took these photos with some trepidation, thinking the guy on the steps was Gestapo !!!

     

    2013-01-16-16-47-29.jpg.4685c0396aea192aae0fe5319859f663.jpg

     

    2013-01-16-16-48-34.jpg.4f59a4708637e60f43b6c06405a64633.jpg

     

    Trips behind steam Hamburg to Westerland, Rheine to Norddeich and Koblenz to Trier followed. A most enjoyable holiday and first trip overseas (by boat from Harwich to Hook V Holland)

     

    I bought a Rokal TT pacific in Trier and was a little miffed when I found out it would not run through my Tri-ang TT pointwork. Not to be outdone I fitted the outside loop with modified GEM points ans all ran OK (altered the guard rails inwards a tad). I still have the loco in a display case.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 5
  7. Holiday to Germany 2006, the fantastic Technik museum at Speyer.

     

    This is the first exhibit in the entrance foyer, recognise it ?

     

    DSCN1108.JPG.b5822a924f9db287fa5c756ffd5327b5.JPG

     

    Why it's the engine that won WW2, better than any German engine they admit !!!

     

    DSCN1109.JPG.ead162e67efd6985bcfe5aa82bdd1b30.JPG

     

    There's even a Jag or two in there !!

     

    DSCF0014.JPG.195f30fa9498392c0beb48a0a909ae0a.JPG

     

    And some locos, like this monster. A huge model railway layout also.

     

    DSCF0017.JPG.0b48a446b321013af1e62e7731ab2bf8.JPG

     

    Can anyone translate this ?

     

    DSCF0032.JPG.1ea3b5dc507087d1007ae6d44e0feac6.JPG

     

    It was on the one of the coaches below.

     

    DSCF0042.JPG.bd87e2162d3c47210fa3851266f0e9ac.JPG

     

    Das U boat englander crew !!

     

    DSCF0049.JPG.cd802ca23c1dae3d164b5ff8503ab373.JPG

     

    Well worth a visit if you are over there.

     

    Brit15

     

     

    • Like 6
  8. 15 hours ago, Wickham Green too said:

    ... unpowered - and probably incompatible with 'distributed' power ....... unfortunately.

     

    Pendolino bogies are powered, and in my experience they run smooth and quiet at all speeds, and through point work etc. Also they are getting on a bit in age now.

     

    NOT looking forward to their replacements.

     

    And HOW will HS2 stock perform ?

     

    Brit15

     

     

    • Informative/Useful 1
  9. 11 hours ago, phil-b259 said:

     

    But I bet they don't have any army of laywers ready to sue everybody nor a criminal prosecution service which would eagerly throw people in prison if a train came off the track due to floodwater displacing the ballast or undermining an embankment etc.

     

    That is the biggest difference (because the derailment risks associated with running trains through floodwater don't change wherever you are on the globe)  - while meaning no disrespect in places like Thailand they are still effectively stuck in the Victorian era with respect to how the legal system works with 'risks' and 'hazards' enforcement.

     

    There is a common sense / safety balance to be drawn between the two "extremes", erring of course on the side of safety.

     

    Agree the safety culture is not very advanced in Thailand.

     

    Brit15

  10. Just to complete the picture (ran out of Mb on last post) here is the flood on the other (west) side not far of rail level last December. Footpath unwalkable past here.

     

    nc3.jpg.7381001bb25fb78430fe3f5f1da30da4.jpg

     

    All these pictures (and more) were put in a report by compiled by neighbours & myself to all the relevant authorities. To be honest we might as well have prayed to the rain gods !!!

     

    Urinating in a strong headwind is the Wigan phrase oft used !!

     

    Brit15

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  11. West Coast Main Line 1.5 miles north of Wigan, near my house.

     

    Barley Brook passes under the line twice within 100m, and floods in high rainfall. The northern culvert (on my side, the east of the line) is shown here a couple of weeks ago after heavy rain. This was reported to Network Rail last year by myself (separate occasion). They sent a guy out when it was pitch black but promised to look into it. The problem here is definitely within the railway fence.

     

    We residents have problems further downstream, these are United Utilities / Wigan MBC problems though. We also had the Environment Agency visit. They're as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

     

    "Remedies" are still in progress (NOT the culvert shown below though, no one bothers about this as it floods the railway land on the other side !!.

     

    All photos taken on the public side of the fence.

     

    20240223_154716.jpg.aa3ce8e33fda9b5742f1a283d416d650.jpg

     

    20240223_154710.jpg.bdb7d8cb5cb7ba3b00c47056fa247fed.jpg

     

    Same culvert other (west) side, took some finding in the dense vegetation !!

     

    nc1.jpg.35dfcd88aa391683e5bfc4fdc8bf5319.jpg

     

    This is the downstream culvert normal flow last August. 

     

    P1August23CulvertunderrailwayBrookflownormal.jpg.f62d666facb8854953381aa6da59f006.jpg

     

    This is the downstream culvert during flood last December. It is backing up from another culvert further downstream under a road embankment (owned by Wigan MBC), Network Rail promised a full inspection of this culvert. Results as yet unknown.

     

    20231107_084134.jpg.4a65e112413da9408a4bb7e175261da1.jpg

     

    I keep my eyes on this lot, (and more) especially after heavy rain. Some houses nearby got seriously flooded in December. We have a local neighbours whatsapp group (useful) and have all the contact details ready, along with names, email addresses etc. Yes they were helpful (Except the EA), but the brook infrastructure, culverts etc was designed over 150 years ago !!

     

    Luckily (for me) the railway is on a 1in150 incline rising out of town, so we are pretty high up. If the flood reaches rail level it will just run south and cause mayhem elsewhere !!!

     

    Global warming or lack of maintenance ? - Both I reckon.

     

    Brit15

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  12. 13 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

    In my first few weeks on the railway in 1966, a colleague made it clear that even if I saw an accident happen, I must tell the press nothing. 

     

    Same at "The Gas Board" - British Gas etc.

     

    Whilst attending incidents we were also told to direct any questions etc to a higher manager, who often attended. If not on site his phone number was given to the press - that got him out of bed and on site quick on many occasions !!!!

     

    Or tell them to ask Sid !!!

     

    Brit15

    • Like 4
    • Funny 1
  13. 37 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

    @PupCam Or you could save a small fortune, make the Vroom Vroom and Chuff Chuff noises yourself and use your imagination.....

     

    Seriously though, if I wanted sound on my railway, it would come from a speaker under the layout, not on the trains.  When you observe the real railway, you get the doppler effect as a train goes past; if the noise comes from the model locomotive you don't get that.  The sound needs to be of the location - so all the background noises as well - not the train.

     

    I read about such a system with distributed speakers under the layout in an American model railroad magazine quite a few years ago. The sound moved speaker to speaker somehow. 

     

    Model locomotive sound doesn't hack it for me, especially steam, it just does not seem right. Having said that I have two O scale non DCC sound fitted locos. Both Atlas.  Both bought s/hand off ebay, and the first one I did not know it was sound fitted (F7 diesel loco) - scared the living daylight out of me when placed on the track and power was applied !!! The other is a 0-6-0 steam switcher. The "chuff" of which is (to me) unrealistic a tad annoying.

     

    On both locos a low voltage starts the sound but no loco movement occurs untill a higher voltage is applied. Various air pump sounds, gurgles, bangs etc are generated. To sound the horn / whistle you toggle the reversing switch, a quick double toggle action sets off the bell noisily !!. You would think the loco would reverse but it doesn't unless you stop it.

     

    Very noisy (like many Yanks !!). I don't particularly want anymore, but they are nice locomotives, run and haul well.

     

    Brit15

     

     

     

     

    • Like 5
  14. HS2 Bat tunnel costing £40Million being built. Lucky bats !!!!!!

     

    IMG_2008.JPG.1e9e98f7a43b7436db5e670f8bb35d9b.JPG

     

    Here is Wigan Wallgate's bat tunnel !!, looking towards Bolton / Manchester. The station building (a listed structure), main road and a row of shops are built on it. As you can see the bridges (2 of them) are in a poor condition and are held up by these contraptions.

     

    Bolton to Wigan is currently being electrified, but not here to Wallgate due to the above (many £££££). It will go to nearby North Western, so no electrics to Wallgate or even trains to Headbolt Lane (Kirby) or Southport by the new secondhand bi mode 319's possible. A total shambles of an "investment" in trains and electrification if the above is not sorted, which in the current economic climate it very much seems it won't be.

     

    THIS (and many, many other similar infrastructure atrocities) is what we flat capped, clog and shawl wearing third class northerners want a bit of investment on. We are not overly bothered about HS2, 225 mph, and many £millions spent on bats and great crested newts etc.

     

    Oh and get these b***dy strikes sorted. THEY are killing our railways (and affecting my daughters new job in Manchester).

     

    Brit15

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