Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

1 minute ago, Jack374 said:

You might be lucky and pass the class 50 tour around Derby. Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow!

 

Jack.

I’m 09:30ish back into derby, got 37099 tonight 

 

[Jack374]

3 minutes ago, big jim said:

I’m 09:30ish back into derby, got 37099 tonight

Luverly, the tour is 09:50 off Derby Station so you never know. I’ll probably be on the platform or on the road bridge to the north...I’ll wave in any case!

 

Jack.

[ruggedpeak]

On 17/11/2019 at 16:39, big jim said:

Yeah, certainly got to some strange places last week!

 

some from this morning, had a few hours to spare at bescot so gave 66775 a wash, scrubbed it with truck wash then jet washed it off

 

before

 

 

 

 

Hi Jim

 

I noticed that the TOPS number had been cleaned above.

 

Last Saturday the Biffa liveried 66783 was on rear of the Stowmarket RHTT run on the GEML and was typically filthy. Someone had similarly cleaned just the TOPS number on the side, despite being considerably larger than above and visible through the muck (couldn't get a photo as it was off in the distance and no camera!)

 

Is there a requirement to keep TOPS numbers clean/visible? Something for those doing weathering to consider.

 

Tony

Edited November 30, 2019 by ruggedpeak
typos

[big jim]

Don’t know about other TOCs but the wagon maintainers have a obligation to keep numbers, yellow ends, ohle flashes etc clean(ish) so they are jet washed a couple of times a week

 

some from last night, started in crewe as per the picture above and visited the northern part of the Mersey rail network 

 

TFW MK4 DVT on crewe LNWR 

 

Then it was away via Warrington and Earlestown to the Mersey rail system where we joined it at bootle jn, reversed at oriel rd, again at Sandhills and onward to the end of the system at ormskirk, the other side of the blocks is the national rail line to Preston 

 

 

 

We then set off for Walton jn where we turned back and did the Kirkby branch 

 

end of the line! Again the other side of the blocks you have the National rail line to wigan 

 

 

 

From there it was back to Sandhills, bootle jn, Earlestown, Newton le willows and all the way to Stafford via stoke in Trent and stone just to record 4 miles I’d track between stone and Stafford!

 

stafford

 

 

Changing ends in stoke to return to derby via uttoxeter

 

Change ends again in derby and into the RTC then home! 

[Jack374]

Great record of the lines you covered in my old neck of the woods Jim, the Croston/Rufford Line especially. Have you heard of the plans to reinstate the Burscough Curve to allow trains to run to Southport from Preston? It'd be interesting if it came off.

 

It was nice to see you today in Derby, apologies as I was on the wrong platform to speak to you. Ta for the wave:

 

 

Jack.

[Jack374]

...And video now I've put it together:

 

 

Cheers Jim!

 

Jack.

[St. Simon]

On 30/11/2019 at 10:29, ruggedpeak said:

Is there a requirement to keep TOPS numbers clean/visible? Something for those doing weathering to consider.

Hi,

 

I believe there is, to prove that the loco is properly registered on the network etc.

 

It’s the same reason why the 66s that come over from the continent have a piece of paper in the windscreen with its TOPS number on it.

 

Simon

[Steadfast]

All vehicles must display their TOPS registered number in the cab but I don't believe it has to be visible externally. Steam and preserved diesels for example display their number in the cab, but have no need to display the same number externally

 

Jo

[beast66606]

On 30/11/2019 at 10:29, ruggedpeak said:

 

Last Saturday the Biffa liveried 66783 was on rear of the Stowmarket RHTT run on the GEML and was typically filthy.

 

Biffa was not on the Stow RHTT, it was on 3S70 which is Broxbourne to Broxbourne which got as far as Witham on the GEML to cover for 3S60 which was unable to get South of Colchester due to engineering work.

[big jim]

Couple of shots from Sunday, went to Chasewater for the Santa special train

 

 

Then in the evening worked a Doncaster up decoy to Toton service

 

a few days off then a couple of nights of Trafford park then a class 47 move on Friday night 

[big jim]

Just one from last night, Nuneaton to Trafford park and back with 66740, first time I’ve driven that one as it’s my wife’s namesake ‘Sarah’ 

 

 

same again tonight but back to Coventry with it via the west mids due to an emergency possession around colwich 

[big jim]

Some from last night, bit of a cock up as they held me at crewe thinking I was waiting for the possession to be lifted and would be going the booked route from Stafford, left there 40 mins late and went the normal way but my relief was as planned at Coventry so I had to work it through to there, ended up getting home at 9am instead of 6:30!

 

trafford park

 

Coventry 

 

and back in crewe this morning a 331 unit

 

going into Manchester tonight on the train to the theatre then I’ve got a class 47 and translator move in the early hours of the morning from rugby to Preston 

[big jim]

Just a couple from last night, rugby to Preston with 47749 and an electric unit 

 

 

Didn’t manage a proper pic at Preston as as soon as I’d stepped off the loco the other driver was away! Got a couple of stills from a Video I took which was also poor as he’s already started moving by the time i started!

 

 

Edited December 7, 2019 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from this morning, should be my last RHTT of the year, it finishes on Thursday for the year and I’m off til then and back on a trafford park job 

 

bescot

 

 

and all I did today was work it to rugby and pass back, the circuit seemed to drop Macclesfield off the schedule today, whether it does it later in the week I don’t know 

 

 

[big jim]

Just one from last night, trafford park again, 66740 again, this time back in nuneaton

 

 

possession tomorrow at little Kimble then I thought I was off until the 28th but they accidentally put me down for a few RDW next week on a couple of MOD trains and another chiltern line possession

 

also got my jobs for lined up for Christmas and boxing days 
 

[Craig1989]

Out of interest what does RDW stand for? 

[Covkid]

1 hour ago, Craig1989 said:

Out of interest what does RDW stand for? 

 

Rest day work

[Siggie in the east]

7 hours ago, big jim said:

 

 

possession tomorrow at little Kimble..... 
 

It's been a few years since I was in little kimble but there was a fantastic Indian restaurant and takeaway just up from the underline bridge on the Aylesbury road, about 8 minutes walk from the station if you get bored and hungry and can nip off site for 10mins.

[big jim]

Sounds tempting but I don’t think it will be open at 3am!

 

 

[Siggie in the east]

Ah....... wasnt sure if it was a day/evening/night T3. Oh well, sandwiches instead :)

[big jim]

43 minutes ago, Siggie in the east said:

Ah....... wasnt sure if it was a day/evening/night T3. Oh well, sandwiches instead

on a diet, so crackerbread and slim fast 

[woodenhead]

7 minutes ago, big jim said:

on a diet, so crackerbread and slim fast 

 

 

 

[Davexoc]

10 hours ago, Siggie in the east said:

It's been a few years since I was in little kimble but there was a fantastic Indian restaurant and takeaway just up from the underline bridge on the Aylesbury road, about 8 minutes walk from the station if you get bored and hungry and can nip off site for 10mins.

 

Gone, as have several ex-pub/restaurants. Now houses there.

[adb968008]

I think i missed this, but How long has GBRF had a 47 ?

[big jim]

6 hours ago, adb968008 said:

I think i missed this, but How long has GBRF had a 47 ?

a quick google would suggest they have had them 2 years this month although they have only been repainted in the last 6 months or so

 

just 3 pics from tonight, bescot to little Kimble via Ruislip to change ends 

 

west ruislip

 

Then due to a scheduling mess up it was realised that I had been pathed in front of the final passenger service of the evening to Aylesbury so I had to pull into the down platform at risborough to allow it to pass me and head onto the single line to Aylesbury, I then had to head north out of the station then set back with my ground staff in the rear cab on back to back radios to access the single line myself!

 

and into little Kimble, only 20 mins late, I then moved off towards Aylesbury where I shut the train down near marsh lane crossing and headed home 

 

back in Monday morning to bring it back to bescot