Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

Long long day, Burton to small heath and back to landor st

 

i have to get the 0600 off crewe to derby then over to Burton, class 170s work those trains most of the time now 

 

it was about 4 mins late into derby so I missed the ‘decent’ connection to Burton which is a cross country HST, today it was the retro livery powercar set, unfortunately the doors shut as I came down the steps so only managed a pic of the rear powercar 

 

over to Burton on the following XC Cardiff service where my train came in

 

Run round in tyseley and into small heath 

 

a couple of things passing by 

 

 

after it was unloaded it was another run round 

 

into tyseley again for another run round!

 

never spotted this before despite many run rounds in tyseley!

 

and away to landor st 

 

and off it went to peak forest 

 

day off tomorrow then 805 testing on Wednesday 

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by big jim

[mikejames]

what does 'testing' involve?

Do you have checklist of tests, or just 'drive it' and see if problems occur?

 

regards and thanks for informative 'how life really is' info.

 

mike james

[big jim]

The tests vary, Sometimes is braking tests, door tests, pantograph monitoring, could be anything depending what’s needed on the day, tomorrow is a number if runs between Stafford and Wolverhampton so i suspect it’s either high speed pantograph or braking tests 

 

just been asked to come in this afternoon, a short crewe to small heath job

[45156]

3 hours ago, big jim said:

just been asked to come in this afternoon, a short crewe to small heath job

Don't know what GBRF would do without you covering all these "can you justs"

Edited September 5, 2023 by 45156

[5BarVT]

17 hours ago, big jim said:

never spotted this before despite many run rounds in tyseley!

 

 

In theory, that dates back to 1962 at the latest as 1.1.63 was when WR Birmingham division transferred to LMR.  But could easily have been in a local store and used later (possibly deliberately knowing old loyalties!).  Used to identify buried cable routes so that (in theory) they didn’t get dug up.

Paul.

[big jim]

Today was a last minute ‘can you just’ a simple crewe to small heath turn 

 

my train waiting in the clutter at basford hall

 

Running round in tyseley 

 

Once in the yard it was off to small heath for a train home 

 

 

 

And a walk back to the car at basford hall 

142003, looking forward to a ride on this on the 27th 

 

Line of 90s 

 

Tomorrows 805 testing is cancelled on the mainline but I’ve got to go to oxley to act as shunter on it incase it needs moving about 

[GWRPhil]

6 hours ago, big jim said:

142003, looking forward to a ride on this on the 27th

 

Given the options in the photo I think I’d prefer the LSL Pullman to the 142. Then again can ride in the 37 would be pretty cool as well. I remember having a ride on a pacer in Laira depot on one of their open days when they used to hold them back in the 80’s. 

[Ben B]

On 03/09/2023 at 22:21, big jim said:

 

amazing how much has changed in that time, still only seems like yesterday but when I look back at pics from around that time it amazing just what’s come and gone both loco and unit classes, locations, companies and even people, here’s to another year (but not 22 more, I’ll be long retired by then!) 

 

Are you joking, you'll probably be sat in a retirement home aged 92 and still get a 'can you just' call ;)

[big jim]

5 hours ago, Ben B said:

 

Are you joking, you'll probably be sat in a retirement home aged 92 and still get a 'can you just' call ;)

it’s actually quite feasible I could get a can you just in 22 years as I’ll ‘only’ be 70 years old so could still work!

 

today was the 805s but only within the depot doing coupling tests, quite nerve wracking as I’ve not done it since training and had loads of people watching! 

 

waiting for the other unit to be moved across from the shed road, lovely air conditioned cab!

pride Pendolino 

805004 

 

next job is early hours of Friday morning, crewe to Leamington spa 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by big jim

[woodenhead]

4 minutes ago, big jim said:

waiting for the other unit to be moved across from the shed road, lovely air conditioned cab!

 

 

And priority on the move so you keep to a tight schedule and as things are presently, lots of weekends off with all your shifts starting and ending in Crewe station.

 

Could sound attractive to some.

[corneliuslundie]

At least a much better view out than the 196/197 EMUs.

Jonathan

[CovDriver]

A lovely air-conditioned view from my class 350 this morning... 

It's roughly the same sort of view from a 196/197 cab believe it or not the 196 window is slightly bigger. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin 

[corneliuslundie]

I suppose still better than from many steam loco cabs, though a bit more difficult for you to hang out over the side. And (hopefully) no smoke drifting down to obscure the view.

Jonathan

[Hippel]

5 hours ago, CovDriver said:

A lovely air-conditioned view from my class 350 this morning... 

It's roughly the same sort of view from a 196/197 cab believe it or not the 196 window is slightly bigger. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin 

That looks smaller than a telephone box!

 

Paul

[KeithHC]

8 hours ago, Hippel said:

That looks smaller than a telephone box!

 

Paul

Obviously not a former blue police box.

 

Keith

[big jim]

Nice short job last night, only 2 pics from it though

 

basford hall 

 

Leamington spa 

 

And a bonus pic of the nice Sahara sunrise 

[big jim]

Should be an interesting week next week, got a whole week of the dee marsh steel again from Tuesday morning but as the line between hereford and shrewsbury is closed it’s going via Bromsgrove and the lickey bank 

 

I’m getting on at Bromsgrove and being banked up the hill before heading to dee marsh via Wolverhampton and telford, I then work it back as far as shrewsbury

 

 

[45156]

59 minutes ago, big jim said:

the line between hereford and shrewsbury is closed

Should make for a lot better drives up and down the A49 with nothing to hold the traffic up at Onibury - on the other hand, I won't heaar you pass if I'm in station yard in Leominster

[big jim]

Short job this morning, crewe to Tamworth (should have been Burton but the other driver lives in Tamworth so it was easier for him to get on there)

 

crewe in the light fog at 06:45, quite bad between crewe and Wolverhampton but it soon burned off!

 

Tamworth 

 

a few things passing by 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that’s it until Tuesday with the steel train via the lickey 

 

Edited September 9, 2023 by big jim

[big jim]

Back to it today, Bromsgrove to dee marsh, first time ever being banked up the lickey, 2200 tons, it was nerve wracking to say the least!

 

66745 up front (66797 banking)

 

I think there must have been a power issue with the loco as at one point about 1/2 way up we were down to 5mph, thankfully we kept moving but it took almost 30 mins to cover the 2 mile climb, I’ve reported it and tomorrow should see a loco swap to see if it was indeed a loco issue, I also had issues at penyffordd where I almost came to a stand in an area where a loco hauling 2400 tons would normally be doing 10-15 mph! 
 

Into dee marsh and onto the empties (thankfully) 

 

Off at shrewsbury 

 

The other driver parked in the station car park which involved my walking over the Dana, the view down onto the station 

 

 

same tomorrow, hopefully with a decent loco

[nightstar.train]

23 minutes ago, big jim said:

Back to it today, Bromsgrove to dee marsh, first time ever being banked up the lickey, 2200 tons, it was nerve wracking to say the least!

 

How does the banking work in this day and age Jim? Do you have radios to communicate with the rear engine? Does it couple on or just push with it's buffers? And if it couples is there automatic decoupling at the top or do you have to stop? 

[beaumoc]

36 minutes ago, big jim said:

66745 up front (66797 banking)

 

I think there must have been a power issue with the loco as at one point about 1/2 way up we were down to 5mph, thankfully we kept moving but it took almost 30 mins to cover the 2 mile climb, I’ve reported it and tomorrow should see a loco swap to see if it was indeed a loco issue, I also had issues at penyffordd where I almost came to a stand in an area where a loco hauling 2400 tons would normally be doing 10-15 mph! 
 

That reminds me of an incident whilst photographing an EWS 66 banking another on a coal train up the Lickey some years ago. I was at Vigo bridge half way up the incline and everything ground to a halt. Neither loco looked in distress and nothing went bang, but I thought this could develop into something good if another banking loco or assistance was required. Sadly after about 10 minutes both locos gave it the beans and the train went on its merry way.  

[big jim]

49 minutes ago, nightstar.train said:

 

How does the banking work in this day and age Jim? Do you have radios to communicate with the rear engine? Does it couple on or just push with it's buffers? And if it couples is there automatic decoupling at the top or do you have to stop? 

you speak to the box to let them know your at a stand in Bromsgrove station and they signal the banker onto the rear of the train

 

it buffers up but doesn’t couple, once the driver of the bank loco  confirms with the box he’s in position the signaller will ring you to advise so and give proceed aspects along the whole of the bank, release the brake power up and go for it! There are off indicators along the length of the platform and associated signal section at Bromsgrove so the rear loco knows it’s ok to proceed, rhe Metis of work states that once the bank driver sees those it’s his indication the move is about to begin  

 

once at the top of the bank the speed will increase and the bank engine drops off the back, if they are going to bank another train they stop behind a position light at Blackwell and cross over to the other line to drop back down the bank, if line this morning the loco followed me to bescot they stop at the signal beyond Blackwell (regardless of aspect) and contact the signaller to say they are at a stand and they will be told to obey all signal aspects from that point 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by big jim

[jamie92208]

You might like this, a freight stalled Climbing out of the Missouri Valley and the Big Boy just happened to be following it.  Just 7000hp available . The action really gets going about 6 minutes in.

 

 

 

Jamie

[45156]

17 hours ago, big jim said:

Off at shrewsbury

Strange thing is that I was underneath Shrewsbury station at the time that you arrived, Jim.  I was in the Park and Ride bus heading back to the out of town car park as you arrived - according to RTT which I had open on my phone at the time.  We've got to stop not quite meeting like this when you're round here!!!!

 

And hey, that was some late arrival today - about 50 down all the way.

Edited September 13, 2023 by 45156