Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[vulcan product fan]

Same old same old, 66749 again to the iport

 

 

 

Just waiting at coleshill to take 66749 to the iport for a change

Jim thats a superb photo of the 66 at iport Doncaster mate is that with the D-SLR

[big jim]

You certainly are experiencing a different driving life now hope its working out for you?

It’s certainly not as varied as Colas at the moment but I can’t expect to be doing everything under the sun as I’ve only been here 2 months, the iport job is a difficult one to cover as there are only 2 of us west mids drivers who sign it at the moment, so it’s stuck between us and the other guy is annual leave this week so I’ve copped for it, not sure what’s happening next week as he’s rest day and I’ve got leave for a couple of days coz of the funeral

 

The main thing is now once I get off the loco that’s it, work doesn’t come home with me anymore no assessments to fill out, drivers problems to deal with, timesheets to fill out and print off and that’s what makes the difference, not that I’m home much this week!

 

So, couple of pics

 

Morning coleshill shot for a change

 

And back again in the evening

 

Bit of a change later........no not really, 66749 to the iport and back again, although next week I do have 2 days of mountsorrel instead of iport jobs, just copped for it on the Saturday

Jim thats a superb photo of the 66 at iport Doncaster mate is that with the D-SLR

No that’s an iPhone 6 picture

[vulcan product fan]

well its a great photo jim .

[big jim]

Just 2 from today

 

Kilnhurst loop

 

And back to Landor st and away to a hotel before my final trip to iport this week in the morning

[jamie92208]

Just 2 from today

 

Kilnhurst loop

 

And back to Landor st and away to a hotel before my final trip to iport this week in the morning

That shot at Kilnhurst brings back some memories Jim of trying to see what shunters were in the little works there for upgrades back in the late 80's early 90's. Is there still a works there.

 

 

Jamie

[big jim]

The old Yorkshire engine place, the building is still there and being used as an engineering works but no tracks any more, they were there during my fastline days (2010) but gone by the time I started going back up there with Colas (2013)

 

I also vaguely remember the place in the 80s and remember sometimes passing it and sometimes not on the way to doncaster but it wasn’t until I started driving up there I realised it was on the thyborough loop so if you went via swinton you missed seeing it

[KeithHC]

A quick silly question Jim if I may. I was looking at a cab ride video Shrewsbury to Machynlleth last night. It shows a loop being used between Shrewsbury and Welshpool. Is this loop still in use and where is it located?

 

Thanks

 

Keith

BTW how are you getting on with your DSLR

[big jim]

That would have been westbury loop, long gone, taken up during RETB signalling changes I seem to remember reading

 

Not even looked at the dsl-r yet!

[lmsforever]

Jim  the first photo of your latest post is brilliant more of the same please .

[big jim]

And it’s goodbye from 66749 for this week, fuelled and dropped into a stone train hopefully for me not to see for a long time!

 

 

Back in on Thursday to mountsorrel

[big jim]

One from yesterday, Landor st to mountsorrel and back with a stone train

 

And today warrington to Landor st with a cement train

 

323 unit

 

New and old livery voyagers

 

 

Bin liner passing through

 

My train arriving in

 

And into Landor st

 

Iport job tomorrow but only from decoy to the iport and back to Roberts road!

 

Bit of variety next week with a scrap train Landor st to Liverpool docks (I’m looking at you mr Delamar!) and the tanks over the s+c again as well as a couple of trips to iport

[big jim]

interesting night to say the least!

 

started off in landor st with the swindon to liverpool docks scrap train

 

 

all was going well until i slipped to a stand in sutton coldfield due to severe railhead conditions, sat for a while before being collected by a local network rail manager and taken to bescot to collect a loco to rescue myself!

 

which happened to be this, 66789

 

 

back to the train via a wrong direction move from aldrich (about 5 mile), coupled up, into multi and thankfully able to get away and all the way off to liverpool 

 

 

 

had to wait for a biomass train to leave though

 

backed the train into the scrap terminal and shut them down for someone else to collect 

 

taxi to lime st where there is a mock up of the new stadler mersey rail unit you can have a look inside, very smart indeed

 

and a panorama pic of the new platforms at lime st

 

S+C tomorrow with the china clay

[vulcan product fan]

Great rescue loco jim .

[Jack374]

Great rescue loco jim .

Definitely, but he'll have to get the Hattons model now!

 

Superb photos as always Jim, keep them coming

 

Jack.

[Joel's Paper Railway]

Hi!

 

I'm new to RMWeb but I just want to say...I've been watching Jim's adventures for quite a few months, and what a fantastic record it is! 

Keep up the excellent photos!

 

Joel

[rob D2]

Self- thunderbird !

 

Are there any duties booked for 2x 66 in multi Jim ?

[big jim]

Self- thunderbird !

 

Are there any duties booked for 2x 66 in multi Jim ?

 

not that im aware of apart from top and tail RHTT jobs, its not very often ive had to do it, that was probably only the 2nd or 3rd time if that

Edited November 7, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from today, China clay again crewe to carlisle, was expecting some rough weather over the s+c but it was glorious (mick reconed it was too wet to come out and see me at settle though!)

 

DSLR pics today for a change

 

Hellifield goods loop

 

 

 

 

Arcrow quarry train passing through

 

 

And into carlisle where is was indeed chucking it down minutes after I took this pic

 

And home I went, iport job tomorrow and Friday

Edited November 7, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

Nearly forgot these from the iPhone

 

Rhtt in crewe

 

 

[vulcan product fan]

silver bullets look well weathered jim great photos of 66708 with the D-SLR

[mozzer models]

Nearly forgot these from the iPhone

 

Rhtt in crewe

 

 

 

 all that loco need is a red strip & large logo

[corneliuslundie]

Interesting diagonal streak of dirt on each cab of your loco. One for modellers weathering their class 66s.

And still trying to decide which "dirt" weathering colour would make the best match to the body colour of the 56. Not your usual smart Colas livery.

Jonathan

[Chris116]

...... Not your usual smart Colas livery.

Jonathan

RHTT trains are normally very dirty. It just goes with the job they are doing.

[Covkid]

Continued thanks Jim for your notes on here.

 

Couple of questions if I may please.

 

I have read that there are different versions of the class 66 cab in GBRf service and some of the fleet can only work in certain areas. Was this only a temporary thing and can all 66/7 now go anywhere?

 

Also, when you had to self rescue with another 66 from Bescot, presume there are jumper cables stowed inside the loco somewhere for you to "crack open" and use. Also presume it is just the AAR jumper and the two air pipes using the AAR multi system ?

 

Thanks Jim

[101]

Continued thanks Jim for your notes on here.

 

Couple of questions if I may please.

 

I have read that there are different versions of the class 66 cab in GBRf service and some of the fleet can only work in certain areas. Was this only a temporary thing and can all 66/7 now go anywhere?

 

Also, when you had to self rescue with another 66 from Bescot, presume there are jumper cables stowed inside the loco somewhere for you to "crack open" and use. Also presume it is just the AAR jumper and the two air pipes using the AAR multi system ?

 

Thanks Jim

I don't know about GBrf but as far as DBs locos go the jumper was usually just thrown on floor somewhere - waiting for you to trip over it!

I only multi-ed 66's up on a couple of occasions and to be honest it's a right pain in the bum, getting the jumper out again was a right ### especially as you were trying to balance on the buffers/coupling at the same time! And in fact I was led to believe that as it had never been properly risk assessed drivers were not supposed to do it on their own.