Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[Mark Saunders]

1 hour ago, Fat Controller said:

I believe they now have a 'vacuum-cleaner' type device; previously they flew everywhere, with predictable results for point detection and track circuits, and even lineside fires on occasion.

On of them was at Darlington last week and it seems to be accompanied by a road skip carrier for the swarf . The same vehicle followed it to York.

[big jim]

Yes the swarf is collected in the machine on site and the accompanying roll on roll off wagon collects it all up in a container when it returns to base, the container off the truck is in the first picture, the grey one with a door and window, I’m not sure how it’s taken out of the machine but it may actually me removed manually, I’ll ask the guys later

 

it needs stabling between turns in locations where the truck can get alongside and be serviced by the technicians,  hence the long transits sometimes such as craven arms on wrexham to bidston jobs, Carlisle upperby or carnforth on northern WCML jobs and Lichfield on southern WCML jobs, for some reason though it’s bescot this week which is unusual unless Lichfield isn’t available 

 

 

[5BarVT]

11 hours ago, Fat Controller said:

I believe they now have a 'vacuum-cleaner' type device; previously they flew everywhere, with predictable results for point detection and track circuits, and even lineside fires on occasion.

I think that was the rail grinder, the Miller is a different (and I understand better) machine.  At one time the grinder had to have a fire crew alongside it.

Paul.

[big jim]

This is the swarf bin on the unit, that swings out on a platform and onto the truck for emptying 

 

the container behind the truck is some sort of messroom thing that they roll off in site then use the empty bed for the swarf bin and put it back on when it heads to the next site 

 

and one of the train in nuneaton

 

same again tonight then a Stone train tomorrow and I’ve just been asked to conduct the ‘This time it’s personal’ charter between Bescot and Rugeley via Cannock, Class 86 up front, that should be a interesting end to the night 

 

learning some new traction next week too (no it’s not the 69) 

[CovDriver]

Something with an EE power unit inside ? Can't think of anything else at the moment. 

 

Great pics as ever Jim.

 

Cheers 

 

Colin 

[big jim]

Not as exciting at that I’m afraid, still looking forward to a challenge! 

[Siggie in the east]

8 hours ago, big jim said:

 ‘This time it’s personal’ charter between Bescot and Rugeley via Cannock, Class 86 up front, that should be a interesting end to the night 

That charter came through Colchester today on the Thames Haven-harwich International-ely-euston leg of the charter with a 66 and two 73s, had the hammer down, very impressive sight.

 

Cheers 

[big jim]

Just 3 from last night 

 

nuneaton, changing ends

 

Atherstone, waiting to move further into the possession to start work 

 

 

and back in Bescot all shut down

 

today is also the 20th anniversary of me starting on the railway as a conductor for First North Western in Chester, I did that for 6 months before going driving and have done that ever since, had some ups and downs in that time, ups being signing lots of routes and traction and becoming an instructor and assessor and some of the downs (not too many thankfully) include losing my job with one company only to have it happen again a few years later when Fastline went bust

 

in the 20 years I’ve signed unit classes 101, 142, 150, 153, 156, 158, 165, 168, 170, 175, 196

 

loco wise it’s class 08, 20, 37, 47, 56, 60, 66, 67, 70, DVT, DBSO and HST, next week to that I can add MPVs to the list too 

 

ive signed (and still sign some of) north to Carlisle and south to london (Marylebone) and Aberystwyth in the west and Doncaster in the east 

 

ive worked Trains, being conducted, to the likes of fort William and oban, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, Brighton and eastbourne and Cardiff and Bristol and lots of places in between 

 

signalling I’ve worked under the usual stuff like colour light and semaphore but also sign token working on the heart of Wales and RETB and ERTMS on the Cambrian 

 

In all quite a varied bag of stuff over the 20 years

 

oh and it’s also @Big jim s dad birthday today too! 

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by big jim

[5BarVT]

Congratulations, and to Big Jim’s Dad too.

I won’t do the “I’ve done (did) xx years” as there are so many here who could probably get a bigger number!  It’s a good industry in the Up times and a right pain in the down.  Fortunately the Up is generally more than the Down.

Paul.

Edited September 3, 2021 by 5BarVT
Correcting autocorrect!

[corneliuslundie]

Sounds like just Stanier Pacifics and Terriers to go then on your loco list!

I guess that one small downside is that you do not often get to the Tywyn area these days.

And I admire your determination to lose weight. I like cycling but some of your trips would leave me well behind.

Many thanks for your regular posts.

Jonathan

[Ben B]

1 hour ago, big jim said:

Just 3 from last night 

 

nuneaton, changing ends

 

Atherstone, waiting to move further into the possession to start work 

 

 

and back in Bescot all shut down

 

today is also the 20th anniversary of me starting on the railway as a conductor for First North Western in Chester, I did that for 6 months before going driving and have done that ever since, had some ups and downs in that time, ups being signing lots of routes and traction and becoming an instructor and assessor and some of the downs (not too many thankfully) include losing my job with one company only to have it happen again a few years later when Fastline went bust

 

in the 20 years I’ve signed unit classes 101, 142, 150, 153, 156, 158, 165, 168, 170, 175, 196

 

loco wise it’s class 08, 20, 37, 47, 56, 60, 66, 67, 70, DVT, DBSO and HST, next week to that I can add MPVs to the list too 

 

ive signed (and still sign some of) north to Carlisle and south to london (Marylebone) and Aberystwyth in the west and Doncaster in the east 

 

ive worked Trains, being conducted, to the likes of fort William and oban, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, Brighton and eastbourne and Cardiff and Bristol and lots of places in between 

 

signalling I’ve worked under the usual stuff like colour light and semaphore but also sign token working on the heart of Wales and RETB and ERTMS on the Cambrian 

 

In all quite a varied bag of stuff over the 20 years

 

oh and it’s also @Big jim s dad birthday today too! 

 

 

 

 

Congrats on the milestone!

 

Out of intrest, what's your favourite loco out of all that lot to drive? And favourite route too?

[big jim]

I do like the Cambrian but don’t sign it any more (more to the point is need a fresh ertms course) I miss going down there, my fave current route I sign is the s+c I suppose but it does get a bit boring, other than that the marches are quite nice 

 

traction wise my fave has got to be a 47, least favourite a 66, no particular reason as they do the job that’s expected of them day in day out and they rarely go wrong but they are a bit soul less compared to say a 37 or 56

[KeithHC]

5 hours ago, corneliuslundie said:

Sounds like just Stanier Pacifics and Terriers to go then on your loco list!

I guess that one small downside is that you do not often get to the Tywyn area these days.

And I admire your determination to lose weight. I like cycling but some of your trips would leave me well behind.

Many thanks for your regular posts.

Jonathan

Well done Jim on 20 years quite a record but you are missing one piece of classic traction. What about that brilliant loco of the Southern region the class 33……

 

Keith

[big jim]

8 minutes ago, KeithHC said:

Well done Jim on 20 years quite a record but you are missing one piece of classic traction. What about that brilliant loco of the Southern region the class 33……

 

Keith

I do like 33s but I’ve never even been in one since I was a kid train spotting, DRS got theirs the same time I started there but I never got on one 

[big jim]

Cracking night in work last night, first up was working a Stone train from nuneaton to bescot, it was running an hour early so I could get there for the second part of the job, looks like the loco had an argument with the loader though!

 

for the next bit I even put on my shirt and tie so I looked like someone owned me, I’m normally in full orange gear on worksites or terminals! 

 

After I worked the Stone train to bescot where I then jumped onto the GBRf “This time it’s personal’ charter to conduct it over cannock chase, as the timings were right between me getting to bescot and that passing through I asked the box to hold the train on the down goods, much to the delight of the track bashers on board, so the final couple of passenger trains could pass though, in the end I arrived 8 mins after it should have passed though so we didn’t lose much time but then there was a trespass incident so we lost a couple more minutes before we moved off the goods

 

The driver on the 86 told me I could drive it as he’s an instructor on them so I got in the seat and worked it over to rugeley, quite a significant event as it’s the first 86 over the chase and indeed the first electric loco over there too! 
 

ready for the off from the goods 

 

obligatory hand on the controller picture 

 

 

I then rode on it to crewe in the 2nd mans seat where I managed a pic before the throng of people jumped off the train for pics 

 

this was only about 1/4 of those who piled to the end of the platform for pictures!

 

The 86 was removed and a 92 put on for the run to Carlisle and mossend, everyone got back on board so again a chance for a picture with no one about 

 

walked back to the car in basford hall, passing the 86 which had been put back on the depot 

 

 

in all a great way to end my anniversary day, certainly not something I thought I’d be doing 20 years ago that’s for sure! 
 

back to normality tomorrow with a possession job again then a week learning MPVs 

 

 

 

[big jim]

Just two from last nights job, however after I had to cancel my plans Friday night due to work when I should have been going to a comedy show in Whitchurch i discovered saturday afternoon via Twitter that comedy festival promoter had a show on at 5pm in Stourbridge so I grabbed a ticket with a couple of hours to spare  and headed over there to see Paul Sinha and a couple of other acts before heading to work at 8pm!

 

 

if your in the Midlands/Shropshire area then check out funnybeesness for some quality acts, next week I’ve got rich hall and the week after Russell Kane in Whitchurch then later in the year and into next year Justin Moorhouse and Rosie Jones amongst others

 

anyway enough promoting that, last nights job was bescot to wilnecote with a possession train, once I got on site it was taxi to coleshill to work the 3rd train to site, supposed to shut it down in position at 01:00 and finished but I didn’t get into position until 04:00 so was mega late finishing this morning! 
 

all 4 trains ready for the off in Bescot

 

and coleshill back at my 2nd train of the night 

 

A week of learning MPVs coming up which I’m looking forward to 

[LeeWL]

Great photos of the 86. I looked and sounded lovely through Rugeley. Certainly the first time an AC loco has worked over there under power. They were often hauled dead over there on diversions in the 70s and 80s. The loco was left on the train and a diesel dropped on, usually a 47 but 40s were not uncommon.

 

 I'm pretty sure the last time an AC loco worked into Walsall station under power was one night shift sometime around 2007 when we had a problem at Bescot North and sent a light Class 90 from Darlaston Junction to Walsall platform 3 and back out to Pleck and Bescot Junctions to get round it!

[big jim]

Went for a ride on the bike earlier to Halfords (3 mile away) but took a 20 mile diversion on the way home as it was such a nice afternoon, glad I did as I saw this traction engine in sandbach

 

 

 

[big jim]

Just one pic from today, first day of learning MPVs, seem simple enough but very temperamental, if you get something in the wrong order when setting up the cab etc it won’t play ball and take power etc so you have to start again!

 

 

Hard to believe they are over 20 years old now! 
 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by big jim

[surfsup]

3 hours ago, big jim said:

Just one pic from today, first day of learning MPVs, seem simple enough but very temperamental, if you get something in the wrong order when setting up the cab etc it won’t play ball and take power etc so you have to start again!

 

 

Hard to believe they are over 20 years old now! 
 

 

Don't brake too sharply in those either (or leave your coffee un-lided if you do), those truck style cab air suspension don't half wobble when you do! 

[big jim]

Yes I was surprised to see the cabs have air suspension, it’s in the manual that if you come to one that’s been sat for a while the cab may be tilted back until the airbags fill!

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by big jim

[big jim]

Just a couple from today, a bit of an early finish so a ride back via bournville and the old Harbourne branch and back into new st 

 

 

 

out on the mainline with the MPV tomorrow morning, kings Norton, Worcester, Leamington and bromsgrove amongst other places 

[big jim]

Some from today, first day out handling with the MPV, a good round robin of the Birmingham area

 

First up we went kings Norton - university - new st - Perry barr - soho - smethwick - Kidderminster- Worcester 

 

 

 

Then we went back the same way to soho - Perry Barr - new st 

 

 

Then New st - St. Andrews - small heath - Dorridge - Leamington spa

 

Leamington spa - dorridge - new st - university - bromsgrove 

 

 

 

And bromsgrove to kings Norton! 

 

certainly a quirky unit to drive, not going to win any speed contests up the lickey that’s for sure! 
 

another day of it tomorrow and final pass out on Friday, looking forward to adding them to my traction card

 

[Peter Heather]

That's some unusual weathering on the front of one end of the unit. What is up there under the panel that is rusting so badly and staining the front?

 

Peter

[CovDriver]

I may see you on your travels as I'm back to work next week after 3weeks off. 

I've no idea what I'm working yet but I'm sure cross city will be heavily involved. Looking forward to be trying to get above 65mph at the top of the bank.

I hadn't realised the MPV's had air suspension cabs sounds like fun. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin

Edited September 8, 2021 by CovDriver