Early Risers.

[iL Dottore]

38 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

CCI-Invest?  Bear's never heard of 'em, had anything to do with them or given them a review - and certainly not a glowing one.  Don't touch 'em with a bargepole.....my legal team is already on it.....

Is that the same legal team that sent CC the notarised cheques signed by a certain Polybear? Or is it the same legal team that sent CC the revised draft contract with annotations in purple ink by a certain Polybear. CC is happy to post the photographic evidence if necessary.

 

CC would like me to point out that a) The Bear agreed to have his comments used in publicity (it's in the contract The Bear willingly signed) and b) if Polybear needs to deny any knowledge or involvement with CCI-Invest because of significant interest by HMRC in PB's (ahem) "money moving" activities it is Not Captain Cynical's Problem.

[Tony_S]

3 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Been up in South London these past few days. Drove home over the junction of the M25 closed at Wisley this weekend. Traffic was slow but not too bad; I just kept in the outside lane...

We are just about to set off round the NE section of the M25 to Enfield. Google maps shows congestion but still quicker than going round the North Circular. 
Tony

[Grizz]

3 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Oh it'll be alright. A few two by fours, a bit of muscle and bobs your uncle.

 

You worry to much Grizz.

 

I take it was the 'dimple'- technical term I know not, that caused it.

🤣 sadly not anymore…..…it’ll be notifiable to RAIB & ORR. Who will no doubt drop by shortly to ask a few general questions. 
 

Like please provide the following evidence. 
Up to date SMS driven Pway Inspection frequencies, last date of inspection, who by, proof of training, proof of assessment and competence. Up to date work bank, fault response against engineering standards and fault close out dates.

Med screen crews, signalling staff…..and so on. 
 

I’d be amazed if this hasn’t already happened. As there will be loads of evidence happily posted all over mugbook etc. 
 

Best bit is that I well remember the days of jacking and packing stuff back on to the road….cameras are every.where now though. 😬

[Erichill16]

Afternoon All,

At mils but came a different route to usual. We regularly walk down Worsborough bank but today we walked in the other direction, towards Penistone. Its not possible to walk on the track bed itself and the cutting between the two tunnels is collapsing.

 

[zarniwhoop]

Just been watching the new Doctor Who from get_iplayer.  Probably going to p155 off many people here, but I thought it, particularly the second episode, was brilliant - enough scary bits, humour, and nods to Abbey Road.

[Erichill16]

Its looks quite boggy down in bottom of the cutting. The path is on the edge of the cutting which is partly made up with spoil from the tunnelling. 
The tunnel portal is just visible between the trees.

[Erichill16]

After about a mile into our walk our path leaves the railway. At this point we are not far from site the former West Silkstone Junction where the Worsborough incline joins the Barnsley to Penistone line. There are end to end bridges over each of the lines. The picture shows a Sheffield to Huddersfield DMU on its way to Penistone and just out of sight on the left is the top of Worsbrough bank and just ahead is the site of the former junction. 

Edited May 12 by Erichill16
Spelling

[DaveF]

Finally a chance to post.  The morning was quite busy with the usual phone calls and e mails plus a longer letter to an old friend.  Then at the last minute I had to make a couple of changes to the intercessions to fit with other parts of the service.  There are days when I wish I got all the infomation for things beforehand but everyone is a volunteer and we do not have a vicar at the moment.  In the end all went well.

 

I decided to stay after church for coffee as I missed the "Holy Weeds" churchyard gardens fund raiser yesterday.  I was able to make a donation and they still had some plants left so I have a tomato plant and a potted dahlia.  I passed on the potted wild flowers, I have enough of those in my garden growing by themselves - sometimes called weeds - without adding more.

 

I now hope to have a quiet sit and finish a magazine before going out in the garden again.

 

It is sunny but not as warm, only 14C at the moment with a sea breeze.

 

David

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Not as warm as yesterday, only 21C but warm enough. Time for some lunch, a nice pork pie and some pickled onions.

[Grizz]

Well it’s turned out nice again….

 

Beautifully warm in Southampton this time. 

 

We met some of our family who have just arrived this morning on the Queen Mary 2. Sadly they only have a few hours here in the UK, before boarding again and then off to Hamburg. 
 

Whilst the womenfolk rushed off to the shops, the boys took a wander round the harbour and found these…. In this order. 

 

 

Funny how normally the UK is so paranoid about fencing it’s railways and trains away from the public view. 
Yet at this location 66019 was found casually stabled next to the neatly mowed lawn, almost like they had forgotten where they’d left it. Not that it would have been a problem if they had, but no one challenged us when we took a very close up inspection of it. 
 

 

[Grizz]

D’cha know that there are some days that I know that Odin has kept his all seeing eye fixed kindly and steadily upon me. And some days the gods have other things planned for me. 
 

Like not putting me on call when less gifted folk have used the entirety of their F@ckwittery skill set to achieve this. 
 

What part of Rule 1 - DO NOT DISTURB THE BALLAST / CARRY OUT LIFTING OF THE TRACK (changing / installing new bearers on S&C ) in hot weather, didn’t you understand?. Particularly when the track temperature has jumped up +20c in a week. 
 

Ooooooooooooooohdear. Well that is not going to get slewed back in any time soon. Not least until the track temperature has dropped back and the joint gaps opened up again. 

 

Edited May 12 by Grizz

[pH]

2 minutes ago, Grizz said:

Ooooooooooooooohdear. Well that is going to get slewed back in any time soon. Not least until the track temperature has dropped back and the joint gaps opened up again. 

 

It must be interesting to watch something like that happen in real time.

[Grizz]

1 minute ago, pH said:

It must be interesting to watch something like that happen in real time.

 

Up to 60% of the track stability is at the sleeper / bearer ends, so the unconsolidated track ballast, especially where bearers and sleepers have been changed, will push laterally especially on S&C because they have tight joints. 
 

Sometimes you can hear the ballast shifting as the track expands. It will always find the weakest point if there is insufficient gaps or too much steel in the track. 
 

Now to be fair they may have been caught out by some delay which meant that they ended up doing this job far later than planned, running into rising temperatures.  But I doubt it. Normally there are downloadable localised rail temperatures available. If you are unsure, call control or the duty engineer. 
 

it is simple, if it too hot or predicted to get too hot, Do Not Start the Job. 
 

This is why these jobs are generally programmed to be done in the winter. 

[iL Dottore]

20 minutes ago, Grizz said:

D’cha know that there are some days that I know that Odin has kept his all seeing eye fixed kindly and steadily upon me. And some days the gods have other things planned for me. 
 

Like not putting me on call when less gifted folk have used the entirety of their F@ckwittery skill set to achieve this. 
 

What part of Rule 1 - DO NOT DISTURB THE BALLAST / CARRY OUT LIFTING OF THE TRACK (changing / installing new bearers on S&C ) in hot weather, didn’t you understand?. Particularly when the track temperature has jumped up +20c in a week. 
 

Ooooooooooooooohdear. Well that is going to get slewed back in any time soon. Not least until the track temperature has dropped back and the joint gaps opened up again. 

 

I wonder how the Japanese manage their track (especially the Shinkansen tracks) as it gets incredibly hot and humid in Japan between end of May and end of September.

 

Choice of type of track (metal used, dimensions, fastenings, ballast) perhaps?

Edited May 12 by iL Dottore
Typo

[Erichill16]

@Grizz S & C , whats that, doesnt sound like you’re referring to Settle and Carlisle?

[Grizz]

1 minute ago, Erichill16 said:

@Grizz S & C , whats that, doesnt sound like you’re referring to Settle and Carlisle?

Switches and Crossings….😉

[The White Rabbit]

And Rabbit's 😮 moment this morning: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/12/workers-unhappiness-leave-beats-awaydays-work-life-balance-seminars-yoga 

 

Though if an employer looks after their staff, the boost to morale does help avoid such feelings anyway, so it does sort of make sense. Even if it results in some clickbait headlines! 

 

 

ION, errrm, not a lot really. Various odds and ends done, some wild flowers - very successful ones, mostly called dandelions - were declocked. A few bits organised in the garage, it's now considerably tidier and ready for the tradesmen when they turn up. A good lunch had, lamb shanks, though unfortunately there's no obvious dog to give the bones to at the moment. 

 

I missed the Northern Lights, both yesterday and last night, too busy zedding at the key times, though I would have liked to see them. I'm not much of a one for bucket lists but seeing the lights is something I'd like to do before time's called. 

 

A pleasant day outside atm, though not one to start PW stuff, for the obvious expansion reasons. Although I usually associate it with certain TV sitcoms, there's a certain phrase about there can be a lot of entertainment from people's ignorance of the laws of physics. 

 

27 minutes ago, pH said:

It must be interesting to watch something like that happen in real time.

 

It's like something out of science fiction! A supposedly inanimate object moving and changing shape in front of you. 

[Grizz]

18 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I wonder how the Japanese manage their track (especially the Shinkansen tracks) as it gets incredibly hot and humid in Japan between end of May and end of September.

 

Choice of type of track (metal used, dimensions, fastenings, ballast) perhaps?

One might suspect that for a start the steel mix (for the rails) might just have a few less ‘shopping trolleys and bikes’ in it….to quote old colleague of mine. 
 

And to be fair the Shinkansen network is a relatively bespoke piece of engineering, whereas the site in the photo where the misalignment took place is an old commuter route, with high volumes of traffic, sitting on a relatively poor formation (since it was originally built on the cheap). 
 

But you are right regarding the temperature range in Japan, especially when compared to parts of the UK, although SE England is beginning to see regular rail temperatures in the +50c s. 
 

The S&C layout in the photo is located in a bit of a sun trap, it has curved track on the approach from either side. It is a reasonably tight radius curve layout all round, with trains potentially dragging the rails down the gradients under load and closing up the gaps. It is a small part of a very complex and old junction layout where it is increasingly difficult to get access (engineers possessions) to carry out maintenance. And even when you can get a possession you dare not run the risk of ‘Over Running’ ….as this would likely cost £20-30K per minute in fines to the train operators. 
 

Happy days. 

Edited May 12 by Grizz
Autocarrot

[iL Dottore]

16 minutes ago, Grizz said:

...where it is increasingly difficult to get access (engineers possessions) to carry out maintenance. And even when you can get a possession you dare not run the risk of ‘Over Running’ ….as this would likely cost £20-30K per minute in fines to the train operators. 

Even more reason to replace the &£$%#wits at DfT who came up with these contracts.

Both the Swiss and the Japanese - neither adverse to making a few bob prioritise quality and safety over "cheap".

 

I reckon that if the railwaymen were allowed to run things (and the current privatised set-up exchanged for the Japanese one [privatised since 1987]) then very quickly would the UK regain its rightful place amongst the pinnacles of railways

[DaveF]

I forgot to mention earlier that I "sort of" saw the aurora at about 03.00 today.  I got up to go to the loo and looked out of the front room window.  There was some cloud but there was brightness which shouldn't have been in a cloudless area to the north.  To be honest it looked just like it has done the few previous times when I've been about at night and seen it.  One day I will get up and go down to the beach in the middle of the night with the camera and tripod - but if I do it won't be there even if it is forecast!

 

After lunch I fell alseep for a while as I was awake in the night.  Then I pottered in the greenhouse before starting to sort out some things to get rid of.  So far nothing is good enough to go into a charity bag, it is very old clothes and bed linen which no one would want.  The book sorting is taking longer than I would like as just about every book I pick up I find something interesting in it - I am talking about non fiction.  Fiction is easier, with few exceptions  paperbacks go to the charity shop as I put them in a box to go as soon as I have read them.  There are a very few authors I keep.  Hardback fiction is another matter, I only buy hardbacks by authors I really enjoy reading and might read more than once.

 

The next job is to pluck up courage to throw out a couple of favourite winter waterproof warm jackets.  They are so old that the linings are wearing out but they are like old friends.  Doubtless we all have clothes we hate to get rid off.

 

David

[Winslow Boy]

4 hours ago, Grizz said:

🤣 sadly not anymore…..…it’ll be notifiable to RAIB & ORR. Who will no doubt drop by shortly to ask a few general questions. 
 

Like please provide the following evidence. 
Up to date SMS driven Pway Inspection frequencies, last date of inspection, who by, proof of training, proof of assessment and competence. Up to date work bank, fault response against engineering standards and fault close out dates.

Med screen crews, signalling staff…..and so on. 
 

I’d be amazed if this hasn’t already happened. As there will be loads of evidence happily posted all over mugbook etc. 
 

Best bit is that I well remember the days of jacking and packing stuff back on to the road….cameras are every.where now though. 😬

Yep know what your talking about there Grizz. Happy days.

The trouble is of course that not all the footage now a days is used to assist, rather the opposite and when all the who hars evaporated the problem is still there.

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl..

 

Found a reminder on BM  to pay the broads tax for BM, opps due Apr 1st.. now paid..

 

Forecast as predicted for a change..

 

Race 1, 3p Xp 2p Xp twice, but shortened to 1 lap. tide just coming in. 

Held back a bit, as I didn't want to be over the line with tide and wind behind us.  So successfully started last:(

 

Occasionally got alongside the 2nd to last boat.. , until the first bend, they got a puff more wind shot round the corner leaving BM wallowing in the wind shadow of some trees.. never caught up.. but just maybe not last on handicap.

 

Race 2, same course, but 3 moved up closer to 4 , 1 lap.

close up behind the leader at the start, but they steadily pulled away, , on the way back passed two Wherrys coming the other way. 150ft wide river at that point with this going down the middle plus hire boats trying to overtake.. made the river a bit narrow..

 

Don't think BM held her handicap in that race.

 

Lunch pizza and salad..

 

Race three, same course but wind dropped as sea breeze fought wind.. 

Now near maximum tide coming in, so BM several times overtook the wind, so the sails were flapping around at times.

Started well in first place,   but they with their taller bigger sail area swept past fairly quickly on a beam reach, once round buoy 3, found BM could hold her position up wind, particularly in the narrower sections.

Wondering if there is some way of  launching / recovering and me controlling a spinnakers from my seat.

 

Race 4.. didn't happen I had no competitors to p!ay with..

 

 

[southern42]

I popped down to the garden this afternoon to have a look at the first of the peony buds to open. Then it was a wander around to see other blossoming plants close up.

 

Rock rose - these flowers will be on the ground by morning and new ones appearing tomorrow but just for the day.

 

My little patch of bluebells, nicely arching, in the wooded corner of the garden.

 

And off up to the right the hawthorn. (Elderflower clusters of ickle buds, above the bluebells, are just emerging.)

 

Below these, my ickle patch of daisies on the weed bed...wild plant sanctuary ...er...lawn.

 

Along the front path Welsh poppies... 

 

 

and a mix of for-get-me-nots and more daisies.

 

Unfortunately, this is what happened to the only flowering Iris, found hanging upside down by a thread, the culprit leaving its trail marks on the leaf.

 

Rescued, the poor thing now sits on the window sill
in an old sardine can.

The stem is so damaged, only time will tell if it flowers...

 

[iL Dottore]

Greetings (again) from trendy Shoreditch. The splendid weather saw me head out to Greenwich, NOT to the Maritime Museum but to the Royal Naval College instead.

 

Although not free, unlike the Maritime Museum, it did mean that the RNC in its renovation did not have to kowtow to the SJW lobby. The fact that you had to pay to get in also meant the SCT (stoopid clueless toureests) were few in number. I had a wonderful guided tour of the amazingly beautiful Painted Hall (included in the price). A decent (and non-tacky) gift-shop and a decent  cafe (which also had homemade LDC!) rounded off things.

 

Heartily recommended.

 

One other thing: yesterday, I was coerced to go to Bracknell for the EMGS show (great modelling, friendly people, great demonstrators, lousy catering) and I had to "enjoy" the pleasures of the pinnacle, of the acme of railway travel offered by Britain: the grubby, worn out trains PLUS the superb Bus Replacement Service - also consisting if a knackered and grubby double-decker. SBB and JR West (not to mention the Hankkyu and JR East railways) can rest easy

[jamie92208]

4 hours ago, Grizz said:

 

Up to 60% of the track stability is at the sleeper / bearer ends, so the unconsolidated track ballast, especially where bearers and sleepers have been changed, will push laterally especially on S&C because they have tight joints. 
 

Sometimes you can hear the ballast shifting as the track expands. It will always find the weakest point if there is insufficient gaps or too much steel in the track. 
 

Now to be fair they may have been caught out by some delay which meant that they ended up doing this job far later than planned, running into rising temperatures.  But I doubt it. Normally there are downloadable localised rail temperatures available. If you are unsure, call control or the duty engineer. 
 

it is simple, if it too hot or predicted to get too hot, Do Not Start the Job. 
 

This is why these jobs are generally programmed to be done in the winter. 

It looks a bit like the first loft layout I built one winter.  I didn't get up there till summer ( arrival of No 1 son delayed things)  it was in a neat series of sine waves at roughly 6" wavelength centered on the track pins. Stupid me for soldering the joints. 

 

Jamie