RMweb Gold Popular Post The Stationmaster Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted February 1, 2018 Morning all, And well said iD - how typical that it takes one observing from outside of the mediocrity we tend to accept. I was finding at work back in the '90s that education standards had definitely fallen, the only reason I hadn't noticed it in the '80s was because most members of my various teams back then were more mature and had actually been educated while at school. Such was the way of things that on one occasion in the '90s Mrs Stationmaster - at that time a TA - gave me a telling off while I was taking photos of the cast in the junior school's play, I apparently had had the temerity to congratulate one child in a particular role as giving a better performance than the other child who was performing that role in the alternative cast (two casts used in order to involve all the children in the year group). Much to my surprise it was verboten to praise the effort of the much better performer in the role. Interestingly laddo appears to be suffering some of the lapping waves from the Peter Principle at work where somebody who might well have been an extremely competent engineer is in a managerial role where decision making seems to come very hard and at a snail like pace in a manner which doesn't exactly benefit a company in a fast moving industry. Meanwhile according to one of my past colleagues talking at the OF's lunch gathering on Monday it would appear that Notwork Rail's senior operations management have absolutely no interest in what goes on when they are not at work with the 'On Call role' completely abolished, which strikes me as both an abrogation of responsibility but also probably hints at a lack of understanding of how a railway should work and be kept working; it explains an awful lot. Equally, as is so often the case, RMweb seems to be infested with the brain dead who are not only unable to read links but fail to understand them if they do - basically a further symptom of the same malaise I think. But enough of what is wrong with the world because there are good points around and fortunately Debs seems to be in the hands of a caring nursing team which one can but hope will aid her recovery - fingers remain crossed. Have a good day one and all and I trust the ailing and recovery will make headway. 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbishop Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 HJ and I exchange not Valentine's Day cards; which reminds me, must go and find one. Best wishes to Debs, Beth, Simon et al. Bill 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohmisterporter Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Flavio, I see no reason why they would do it on a drill table, but have you checked it is not a left hand thread? You may be trying to tighten it up. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2018 Been for a trip on the trams (all are now free in the cod Rick) and a visit to a model shop underneath Rock's old place of employ. ( don't EVR complain of prices in the UK ....a Hornby Q6 was over £220). Nice here, about 22C with lots of sun. Not sure that we will make it to Ballarat tomorrow...an excuse to come back again methinks. Sleep well Ers. Baz Trams have been free in Melbourne’s CBD for a couple of years now. Ostensibly done because the Powers That Be could not make the Myki ticket system work without a touch-off which would have effectively crippled the system. 100 passengers boarding at a single stop can touch-on as the tram moves away but when that number (which is quite typical) all tries to touch off on exit stop dwell time would potentially have doubled. Some people also saw it as a move to eliminate the always-free City Circle tram which is the last haunt of the famous W-class trams. It is no secret that the franchisee has no interest in running these historic trams and considers the service a nuisance and a source of delay to their OPR-requirement timetabled services. Hearns Hobbies, beneath platform 1 at the Palace of Attendance, is a respectable multi-hobby shop but is pricey because they pay CBD rent. Did you meet John in the railway section? He’s an expat and a long-time friend. 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold grandadbob Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 Equally, as is so often the case, RMweb seems to be infested with the brain dead who are not only unable to read links but fail to understand them if they do - basically a further symptom of the same malaise I think. If that's the one I'm thinking of Mike even I as a very no-nothing about railways sort of person read and understood it and can't understand why other people kept coming back with other theories about the structure particularly as one or two people did give you credit for coming up with right answer. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 However I suspect these "brain dead" people went to school long ago. So perhaps it wasn't always an educational golden age in the past. I was in the A stream at primary school and went to a grammar school so it would have been easy to think most people could do "sums" with vulgar fractions or follow instructions. At the school I went to there was so much attention given to the Rugby teams that anyone not good enough was just a target for humiliation. When Matthew was at school they still had teams but everyone was encouraged to do their best and helped to develop skills. Tony 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lurker Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 A propos of not a lot, I was looking at the Middleton's Bexleyheath and Sidcup lines book last night. They have an extract of the 1870 timetable. There was a train on the Sidcup line timed to depart London Bridge at 5.39pm. Its arrival time at Sidcup 6.02. My normal train home from LBG is 17.39. Timed arrival at Sidcup.....18.04. So much for progress! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Abel Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) BIN day - the Mrs doing those honors today as I'm away. NOT that I haven't had the opportunity to see them in action today. The route I take from the hotel to the client includes mostly local roads, and one particularly long portion of the route has Thursday as BIN day, as evidenced by BINs scattered all over the place and NY BIN trucks commandeering the roads. They do whatever they please, including taking the wrong side of the road if there's even a minor backup. Best to be avoided and CERTAINLY NOT to be argued with. #2 client - the one with the argumentative uninformed staff who suggested I was confused about how to do sh!t - sent me THIS communication yesterday afternoon late; "Hello Ian, I am having the same issue with this crystal connection on the **** server itself..." and THEN provided some details and suggestions for me to try as other options. Funny, seems I told them at least THREE !@#$!@#%$!@#%$ TIMES already that it didn't work and we need to try something else Then again, why listen to the hired expert/consultant, when you can fumble and stumble for three days before reaching the SAME !#%$!@#%!#@%$!@#%$ CONCLUSION yourself? Polite company and some small remaining measure of professionalism prevents me from sending them back a communication comprised entirely of expletives and what they should do with their "connections" Long Island client leaving me alone as they rush around in abject panic over getting the appropriate documents to the "auditors" today. Right, calm and quiet day then, and POE so I can catch the homeward flight from <shudder> JFK late afternoon. No signs of reasons for any delays so far, so here's hoping... 2 and cloudy, expecting 6 for a high here. Contrasted with -20 (right now) with a RealFeel of -35, back home, high there will be about -14 and that'll coincide with when I get back Here's to all the BIN folks, hoping they service your needs best they can... Edited February 1, 2018 by Ian Abel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) Some of what Ian (the Abel Ian in case there is Ian confusion) reminds me of so many IT related conversations I had years ago. For some reason I remembered a very strange request from the Borough IT adviser. I was to go down to a school, not one I usually went to as they didn't have Windows based networks. I would be given a set of written instructions and I was to follow them. These turned out to be instructions to access the school's admin system. This all seemed a bit "Secret Squirrel" to me, though I did say others knew more about that system than I did but I did go. So I sit down in the Director of Studies office, enter the instructions on the paper and access the admin system. Clearly this was a surprise and I got a "how did you do that?". I said I had followed the instructuons. It turned out the previous person who looked after the finances had left and hadn't been too happy about it. He had been supposed to provide access instructions and in fact had done so. They were planning to take legal action against a totally innocent person! What was the fault? They hadn't read the first instruction which was to mount a drive for access. Being ignorant about Acorn Econet I just followed the instructions rather than assuming something. Edited February 1, 2018 by Tony_S 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium southern42 Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) ' Afternoon all from red dragon land. Wot's this St Valentine's Day thing, then? Oh, yes! It is that GREAT BIG RED DISPLAY you bump into on your way into the store to do your week's shopping. Now where have they put the BIRTHDAY cards? Oh! Is that all there is? Yep! All I wanted was a birthday card. Thinks....Must remember to post it in time! I always have the same trouble finding birthday cards in December. I wonder why? Edited February 1, 2018 by southern42 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) Morning all, ... I've had a most frustrating time, over the past few days, thanks to poor quality control at whomever supplies Aldi with their Workzone products.... ... Example No. 1: The laser level did not work and, after spending some time assembling it, I turned on the drill press on to no effect. Opening up the head I found that the drive belts weren't slack they were absent in their entirety ! So back to Aldi with receipt in hand and defective machine in tow... Example No. 2: I opened the box, checked the head for drive belts (all present and correct) and laser level functionality (yep!). So machine was duly assembled, plugged in, start button pressed and the entire workshop plunged into darkness as the fuses blew... So back to Aldi with receipt in hand and defective machine in tow... Example No. 3: All bits present and functional, assembled, plugged in and turned on & everything rumbled along quite nicely. However! (yep, folks, there IS a however) the drill table was not level. So taking a huge Allen Wrench (not supplied) I tried to loosen the tightening screw. Despite me putting my entire weight onto the Allen Wrench NOTHING budged! Finally, after after using my entire body mass leaning on the drill table I manged to get the damn thing level. Given that I don't plan on doing any odd angle drilling, the locked in drill table is not a problem. But I would would dearly love to learn how I can loosen up the screw. Any thoughts??? (I reckon that the worker mounting such items with a power wrench must had a bad hair day or summat when he/she assembled this particular model). .... Well, that's all the news that's fit to print. Bis Später iD My drill press looks very very similar to one sold by Aldi as recently as last year. However mine doesn't have a laser level. Adjusting the table angle is achieved by slackening a large bolt under the table. No Allen keyed type fastener. I haven't needed to adjust it yet as it is level.Edit. Found an image online. Part 26 on diagram Edited February 1, 2018 by Tony_S 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 A propos of not a lot, I was looking at the Middleton's Bexleyheath and Sidcup lines book last night. They have an extract of the 1870 timetable. There was a train on the Sidcup line timed to depart London Bridge at 5.39pm. Its arrival time at Sidcup 6.02. My normal train home from LBG is 17.39. Timed arrival at Sidcup.....18.04. So much for progress! This seems to be a standard sort of blight on suburban services. Our peak service (connecting off our branch train) is faster than it was years ago but the daytime off-peak service shows a less than amusing tale in the post-steam age. thus - Day time off-peak journey time from London on the regular service pattern - 1963 Summer timetable - 66 minutes (for 36 miles but it includes a change of trains). First generation dmu 1966-67 Winter timetable - 62 minutes - first generation dmu 2016 Summer - 66 minutes - second generation dmu 2017 Summer - 66 minutes - second generation dmu 2018 January - 68 minutes - second generation dmu on branch, Class 387 electric on the mainline. The branch (5 miles, two intermediate stops) running time has been amazingly consistent at 12 minutes for over a century through two generations of steam engines and three generations of diesels. It was in fact 2 minutes quicker in broad gauge days but there was then only one intermediate station. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TheQ Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2018 The wind is howling from the north, it's chucking it down, it was sleet earlier. That super moon has lead to extra high tides. The flood gates are shut. I think they'll stay shut for a couple of days. The A47 has been shut all day due to a double lorry crash. People were stuck in Tescos car park for hours, unable to even leave their parking space as the traffic tailbacks caused gridlock. Got my ears bent at the bank, about going for online banking, and giving them my mobile number. I pointed out, by using the bank I was saving her job and I don't have a mobile phone. Me I'm warm, happy at not going anywhere. Looking forward to a Highland Park. Oh wonderful the seaweed botherer is forecasting snow next week... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) The branch (5 miles, two intermediate stops) running time has been amazingly consistent at 12 minutes for over a century through two generations of steam engines and three generations of diesels. It was in fact 2 minutes quicker in broad gauge days but there was then only one intermediate station. Presumably the limiting factor is the number of stops and the time required for humans to clamber off and clamber on. The acceleration abilities of electric traction may be the only thing that can improve suburban services with many stops, and while efficiency is far greater today, raw performance of electric traction probably isn't much different in the century or so it has been in widespread usage. Edited February 1, 2018 by Ozexpatriate 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2018 Rick, yes I did have a chat. Trip to Ballarat postponed. Myki card to be added to.. Baz 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 Presumably the limiting factor is the number of stops and the time required for humans to clamber off and clamber on. The acceleration abilities of electric traction may be the only thing that can improve suburban services with many stops, and while efficiency is far greater today, raw performance of electric traction probably isn't much different in the century or so it has been in widespread usage. The biggest problem is that some linespeeds on the branch have been reduced - not great in terms of extent but the reductions are precisely where they hit acceleration and braking thus costing time. But despite that a 16X unit can still knock a minute off the booked times, and driven with a bit of flair it could knock off even more. Judging by their performance over 5 miles non-stop I reckon a 387 electric could reduce the time to a reliable 10 minutes but it would still need a grown up approach on linespeeds which is asking rather a lot of NR (who claim they don't have any money). Anyway Grayling 'deferred' our electrification - politico speak for cancellation - but all down in reality to NR incompetence on the GW electrification. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I had hoped that someone on ERs would have trawled the depths of their immense knowledge about machinery/engineering/tools A sensible approach would be to increase your mechanical advantage by obtaining a set of Allen keys that fit on a half-inch drive breaker bar. My preferred method is to extend the Allen key by sticking the long end into a stout piece of steel pipe 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Evening all, Just collapsed on the sofa and watching Countryfile. The wildlife programmes of my youf regularly showed animals that were injured or orphaned and let the cameras keep rolling, no-one intervened and the animal might well die or be taken by a predator. Seemingly not nowadays. "Ooh, the badger we named "David" is limping and seems to be injured - we better get a vet out to it later." So, I guess we won't see footage of said badger being taken by foxes then. <Rant off> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDMJ Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 The n-number of the b-beast! I thought the number was 616. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 Evening all, Just collapsed on the sofa and watching Countryfile. The wildlife programmes of my youf regularly showed animals that were injured or orphaned and let the cameras keep rolling, no-one intervened and the animal might well die or be taken by a predator. Seemingly not nowadays. "Ooh, the badger we named "David" is limping and seems to be injured - we better get a vet out to it later." So, I guess we won't see footage of said badger being taken by foxes then. <Rant off> Excuse my cynicism, but most of these nature programmes are probably made in a big studio/tank made to look like the habitat the creature would normally dwell in. David the badger is really a stunt badger whose limp is the result of a nasty tumble after one too many 'Old Prickly's' at the 'Black Cock Inn'. How far's that I hear you ask? Just up the hill from what used to be Penrhos Junction actually! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 The wildlife programmes of my youf regularly showed animals that were injured or orphaned and let the cameras keep rolling, no-one intervened and the animal might well die or be taken by a predator. I don't think this one was staged in a tank. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) ^ Run away awl? Silly English k-nigg-its awl?? Oh, "knight awl". Edited February 1, 2018 by Ozexpatriate 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 G'night all Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted February 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2018 I don't think this one was staged in a tank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16lZU0agbg Andy Serkis could have done that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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