Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[Danim]

How about Scotland and good luck with your move to GBRF will need to change the title of the topic

Edited July 18, 2018 by Danim

[Steadfast]

The Eastleigh blokes take M40 as far as Birmingham (Landor St I think) but that knowledge further south will come in handy if you need to relieve it earlier due to late running. I think something similar happened the other day when it left us rather late

 

Jo

[big jim]

Trip to the seaside last night, crewe-blackpool-Manchester-Stockport and Sheffield!

 

Blackpool

 

 

 

The new platforms

 

And in Sheffield this morning

 

 

And away it went

 

[s182ggu]

Hi Jim. What's the blue coach in this set - don't recall seeing that before?

[big jim]

It’s an ex barrier vehicle, just there for brake force now

 

Quick vid of it leaving Sheffield this morning

 

[roy h]

jim how often dose this train run in the Stockport  / Manchester area

 

thanks

[s182ggu]

 

It’s an ex barrier vehicle, just there for brake force now

 

Quick vid of it leaving Sheffield this morning

 

https://youtu.be/Gf9OFQw2GwA[/quote

 

Thanks Jim

[jonas]

Congratulations Jim. Maybe a ‘best of’ post would bring this amazing thread to an end when the time comes...saying that I look forward to ‘Down by the tracks woth GBRF’ already!

[big jim]

Had one of those days today, a nice little van positioning job, leave it in Llandrindod for when I arrive there tomorrow with the 950 unit, got there for 13:00 only to find the next train was due at 17:00!

 

Went for a drive to Builth wells which was in full swing preparing for the royal welsh show next week, shocked to see how much of the town was fenced off and speaking to a shop keeper she said there is that much trouble in the evenings they fence areas off, her shop was closing for the duration of the show too!

 

I last visited the show in 1993 and stayed in the young people’s village and admittedly I don’t remember much as ‘I was very very drunk’ but I do remember seeing 37s crossing the river bridge at the far end of the field and as at the time I wasn’t really into railways I didn’t know what line it was and didn’t care really but it’s funny to look back 25 years down the line and now be driving the same locos on the same line (10 miles north of there)

 

I went for a drive to Builth road station too but didn’t bother with any pics but I’ve finally seen the place where the lines crossed at 90 degrees (heart of wales and Hereford-Rhayader line), the pub is now a private residence

 

Then went back to Llandrindod to wait another 2 hours for the train home

 

Station building

 

Signal box (not in its original position, it used to be at the crossing towards craven arms)

 

The grey building is the token exchange point

 

So TRU back there tomorrow and a night in the famous ‘metropole’ hotel before a cambrian ballast out of Aberystwyth on Sunday!

 

I can pretty much guarantee it will be my final trip to Llandrindod and possibly my final cambrian this weekend before I leave

[big jim]

And back to Llandrindod from derby

 

On the TRU

 

Craven arms

 

Knighton

 

Llandrindod

 

And away it went

 

Cambrian in the morning

[big jim]

Probably my last cambrian trip today, landre to crewe with a rail delivery train, had possessions in front of me at dovey so tookbthe opportunity to stop for some pics next to the river just as the sun was rising

 

Landre

 

Near dovey jn

 

 

 

Welshpool

 

Basford hall

 

Class 56 back from peak forest

 

 

And that was that, whether I see the Cambrian again is another thing!

[big jim]

A blast round the midlands last night, should have had a DVT in the train but it was causing issues so it got knocked out, the plus side 2 37s in multi with 3 coaches went rather well, had speed restrictions due to only 3 vehicles (lack of brake force) but could still do 80 where permitted

 

It left 85 mins late, I was booked to pick it up from burton on Trent so the driver who was on board said she was happy to still do so so I took her van there and met up as planned

 

37099 leading

 

Blockade engineering train

 

Panorama

 

From burton it wa across city line to Aston then stetchford to international

 

 

International to Stafford via bescot

 

One for mick, an extra vent on TIC2 for the air con

 

 

 

Stafford to redditch via bescot and New st

 

 

Redditch to Washwood Heath and back to new st

 

 

New st to Lichfield and onward to Alrewas and burton and then due to the derby blockade over stenson to sheet stores jn and into Trent loop

 

 

Trent loop to derby, my poor 08 looking a bit forlorn in the sidings

 

And the other 08 looking a bit healthier in the sunshine

 

Should have been on the logs tomorrow but looks like I’m out with 37219 and the RILA machine on the west coast main line instead

[big jim]

Started in Wigton this morning

 

Class 88 heading towards Sellafield

 

Then my train turned up, happened it was top and tail 68s

 

 

Eventually got to derby for today’s job

 

EMT hst on etches Park, revised livery

 

37219 with RILA attachments

 

 

Derby to Leicester and over to nuneaton where I sat on the chord to the west coast mainline while the equipment was fettled

 

And it was away to crewe where it was stabled for the night on the PAD

[melmerby]

We have just had a visit from Colas in our road.

No we didn't get a class 70 or a class 37, just a flat bed lorry with some guys doing what the company originally started out doing.

 

Laying COLd ASphelt (hence the name)

 

I've enjoyed your thread with Colas (and previously with Chiltern) so good luck with your new adventure with GBRF.

 

Cheers

 

Keith

[big jim]

Some from last night, a proper round robin around Manchester

 

Started in longsight

 

Over to Stockport, routes into the bay platform, didn’t know if it would fit but the signaller was adamant it would with 8M to spare

 

Which it did, right up to the buffers and sure enough about 10m to spare!

 

From there it was off via reddish to rose hill marple, back to adwick, miles platting, Manchester victoria, Salford and over to Hindley.

 

Back from there via the same route to miles platting and away to stalyvagas

 

From there to Newton Heath, back to baguley fold, where we misread the diagram and missed a bit of recording but thanks to the signaller we managed to get back to a point where we could pick it back up and re-record it via miles platting again!

 

From there it was miles platting to Philips Park jn, ashburys and on to the old woodhead line to hadfield

 

 

 

There was nothing for me there!

 

Local wine bar for local people

 

Then away to glossop

 

 

From there to Stockport

 

And away to crewe

 

 

And that was that

[big jim]

Just a few from last night, couldn’t be bothered with pics!

 

Crewe to rugby via the west mids then back to Tyseley

 

Crewe

 

 

And the end of the shift in Tyseley

 

 

 

And a 172 passing through Tyseley station

 

I wonder if that’s my final goodbye to 37025?

[big jim]

What a way to start the day, hour and a half on a pacer!

 

Working with GBRf today refreshing drivers on class 60s

 

 

Next time I drive these I will be working for GBRf!

[scottishlocos]

Jim

 

This SRPS Rail tour with 025 was GBrf operated and 025 has been to Blackpool via the S&C so a few routes you sign

 

You will just have to convince GBrf on the merits of getting a couple of 37s

 

Was rumors 901 was going team GB but that seems not to be the case now

 

[big jim]

Day off today but went into carlsile for some shopping, got back to the car just in time to see the Dalesman charter leaving for the s+c

 

48151 dragging a 37

 

 

And a quick vid of it

https://youtu.be/wQiPRfKMu1g

[Wild Boar Fell]

Day off today but went into carlsile for some shopping, got back to the car just in time to see the Dalesman charter leaving for the s+c

 

48151 dragging a 37

 

 

And a quick vid of it

 

Looks like it is missing its nameplates, I wonder when they disappeared.

[Jack374]

48151 dragging a 37

More like the 37 shoving the 8F!

 

I’m off to see the Scarborough Spa on Thursday, this could well be on it.

 

Jack.

[big jim]

Which one is missing nameplates, 8F or 37?

 

It’s currently looking like my final job with Colas is going to be next Thursday and it’s very nicely the NMT to Holyhead and back, a nice way to bow out if it happens

[4630]

Good luck with your move to GBRf, Jim.

 

If I remember correctly from when you explained your 'route card' previously, you don't sign the Calder Valley or Standedge routes across the Pennines?  Is that likely to change with your move to GBRf?

[newbryford]

More like the 37 shoving the 8F!

I’m off to see the Scarborough Spa on Thursday, this could well be on it.

Jack.

It was definitely pushing northbound earlier through Settle.

I think Scarborough Spa has been 35018 for the last few weeks.

[Wild Boar Fell]

Which one is missing nameplates, 8F or 37?

 

It’s currently looking like my final job with Colas is going to be next Thursday and it’s very nicely the NMT to Holyhead and back, a nice way to bow out if it happens

Oops sorry yeah, 48151. Thought it carried the name 'Gauge O Guild'.

Good luck in the new job