RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 I was watching the news last night and there was a report about the problems they were having with the third rail electrification in Kent. Apparently the problem was that repair crews couldn't drive to the places where the problems were. It would appear that there are no emergency diesels there! That sure would be a bad idea to not keep any diesels for this kind of thing! I guess it's cheaper for train operators to just live with this kind of disruptions on a few days per year than to provide suitable remedies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 There are a few ED's (Class 73's) in use on the erstwhile Southern Region but nowhere near the numbers we used to have back in BR days. They have been out and about but have been of limited use other than ghost trains and the odd rescue of dead units as we no longer have the cross compatibility that we used to have with the old BR(S) slam door stock. Of course the other issue has been that trained drivers with correct traction/route knowledge have not been able to get to them (there are some GBRf ones at Tonbridge for example) to actually drive them anywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 There are a few ED's (Class 73's) in use on the erstwhile Southern Region but nowhere near the numbers we used to have back in BR days. They have been out and about but have been of limited use other than ghost trains and the odd rescue of dead units as we no longer have the cross compatibility that we used to have with the old BR(S) slam door stock. As we're talking about trains in winter anyway: Is there any departmental stock to de-ice the third rails? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2010 As we're talking about trains in winter anyway: Is there any departmental stock to de-ice the third rails? I'm sure someone will know what actually happens but the news report last night (news reports about railways have been known to be not always accurate) suggested that normal but empty trains are run through the night to keep the rails clear and when there is a problem it is accessed by road. Possibly something to do with the train companies not owning the track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 I just read that a class 140 electric has been spotted working an IC service from Bebra to Frankfurt this morning as the 120 diagrammed to work it originally had failed over night. This really was unusual as the 140 is a goods engine with a 110 kph top speed only! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 Here's a pair of videos of 218s throttling up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWbGtmnr5S4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NituZArJec0 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2010 I'm now back home from the trip to the railway station. I think I now have the basics of driving an automatic in snow. I think it is actually easier than a manual. Either that or the dial you turn to "snow" makes it easy! I am glad not to be out any longer though. My wife is convinced that colleagues from inside the M25 just can't comprehend what it is like elsewhere in the country at the moment. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2010 I'm just noticing just how great the Simple Minds still are after all those years . They got some of the most atmospheric songs I ever heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Well, there can't be snow everywhere ... thieves are apparently using Google Earth to spot lead on Church Roofs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2010 I'm just noticing just how great the Simple Minds still are after all those years . They got some of the most atmospheric songs I ever heard. Other atmospheric songs are also available Like a Hurricane, Neil Young Clouds, Joni Mitchell Its Raining Men, Geri Halliwell Fog on the Tyne, Lindisfarne ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted December 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2010 Well, there can't be snow everywhere ... thieves are apparently using Google Earth to spot lead on Church Roofs. My wife's colleague wondered if she could use Google Earth to check if her builder's were actually working on her house roof that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkmouse Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Just been out for a walk to check on the car and road, and enjoyed it so much I went on up the hill to the park. Beautiful. I do like snow at night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 3, 2010 My wife is convinced that colleagues from inside the M25 just can't comprehend what it is like elsewhere in the country at the moment. That's because it is a different country. Google have recently renamed the M25 as Autoroute britannique. Suggested new names for other roads and railways welcome... Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NGT6 1315 Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning all... This morning it's just -5°, which but I think is quite cold enough. I think I shall prepare some breakfast now as I have a couple of things to do today. Have a good day everyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning all. Cold and it has stopped snowing here. Just going to make huge bowl of porridge and then sweep the car before heading down to the station. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Leaden oktas here. All white on the ground. Next snow predicted for lunchtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning All, It isn't quite as cold here this morning - a mere -5°C. Having spoken to my parents last night, it would seem that they have quite a lot more snow than we do. My Dad reckons it is the most snow they have had since 1987. Interesting to see the discussion about third rail electrics on the Southern Region. I have just posted a comment on a photograph in the gallery - it appears that most of the Southern ground pretty much to a stop yesterday afternoon. I wonder if that snow blower that NSE bought in 1987 is still around?!? Quite a few years ago, I was coming home from work in London on a very snowy evening - we slipped to a stop around Tunbridge Wells with the usual third rail firework display. Fortunately, we had light and heat so just sat around and waited. Before too long, a 33/2 appeared out of the night and dragged us onwards. In those days, there always seemed to be diesels kicking about. Hither Green was usually full of them, as were a number of other depots and sidings around the area. Last time I passed Hither Green it was a shadow of its former self. I think there was one shed in there, and that was about it. To be honest, the 3rd rail has always been a disaster. However, I can't see it being converted to OHLE any time soon! Bring back the Thumpers - at least they almost always got through! Have a good day everyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium skipepsi Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning all -7 at the moment but not snowing. I finally got my car off the drive with assistance from three neighbours yesterday afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning All, Not quite so cold today and it's not snowing (yet). Fasts broken, coffee being drunk and the heating is on in the shed ready for a bit of MK 1 coach construction. Of course as the staff are at home 'cos the schools are closed I may get diverted to drive clearing! Have a good one all. Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BoD Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 3, 2010 Morning all Training day today (read into that what you will) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Between the lines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BoD Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 3, 2010 There would be no point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted December 3, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2010 Perhaps we should switch to another track. Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 This could become a circular discussion:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Perhaps we should switch to another track. No, just signal our intention and see how it turn(s) out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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