Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[woodenhead]

40 minutes ago, 45156 said:

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.

50 minutes down to ensure he didn't bump into you on the platform, sounds like he timed it just right.  🤣

[45156]

1 minute ago, woodenhead said:

50 minutes down to ensure he didn't bump into you on the platform, sounds like he timed it just right.  🤣

That was today, we had another of our close encounters yesterday - that's five of them so far!!!

[big jim]

1 hour ago, 45156 said:

That was today, we had another of our close encounters yesterday - that's five of them so far!!!

We have met once face to face though in carnforth many years back! 
 

50 late due to a tops issue, ready to go on time but can’t go anywhere without paperwork

 

no pics until dee marsh today as the train was already off the end of the lit up platform at Bromsgrove, fresh engine on the train and got up the bank at 15-20 mph, much better 

 

dee marsh 

 

08 waiting for us to set back 

 

different one today from the other week 

 

Ready to go (eventually!)

 

230 passing 

 

Waiting for the passenger train to clear the section at hawarden bridge 

 

230 again

 

 

Into shrewsbury 

 

a view of the front of the station this time 

 

same tomorrow 

[45156]

10 minutes ago, big jim said:

same tomorrow 

So where do you stay overnight  Shrewsbury or Bromsgrove?  Im guessing that you don't brave the A49 from Crewe every time!

 

12 minutes ago, big jim said:

We have met once face to face though in carnforth many years back

Yes, I do recall that now

[big jim]

4 hours ago, 45156 said:

So where do you stay overnight  Shrewsbury or Bromsgrove?  Im guessing that you don't brave the A49 from Crewe every time!

 

I drive from crewe to Bromsgrove in the early hours (M6/M5) and then drive home from shrewsbury at the end, it’s not too bad except the M5 is closed at J2 so i had to divert via the A38 last night but it wasn’t too bad as I went a different direction to the main motorway traffic

[big jim]

Another day of it

 

bromsgrove

 

Waiting at bordesley, the first chiltern london service from moor st passing below 

 

Dee marsh

 

230

 

Stopped in wrexham today for a change!

 

The now world famous football ground in the background

 

Into shrewsbury for a crew swap while a Donnington to arpley service comes up the middle road 

 

same tomorrow 

[Siggie in the east]

2 hours ago, big jim said:

Another day of it

 

bromsgrove

 

 

Does this service come out of a warehouse/siding just outside of the station by any chance?

 

Cheers

[big jim]

The train comes up from south wales 

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H02246/2023-09-13/detailed#allox_id=1

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by big jim

[big jim]

Only 3 from today, there’s only so many times I can take the same pic! 
 

dee marsh 

 

wrexham 

 

shrewsbury 

 

same tomorrow but through to landor st at the end instead of shrewsbury 

[big jim]

Last day of it, took it back to landor st today though 

 

my mate was waiting for me to pass at shrewsbury and he took this pic from his class 97 that was working the Aberystwyth logs with 37405

 

Wolverhampton 

 

Landor st 

 

A new bridge has gone in over duddeston mill road alongside the existing rail bridge, can’t quite work out what’s going over it whether it’s a road or HS2 tracks as it’s certainly wide enough for them but it seems a strange angle 

 

next week is a mixed bag 2 possessions at Ludlow, Mountsorrel and a couple of locos to hinksey I think, but that’s me until Tuesday 

Edited September 16, 2023 by big jim

[CazRail]

I've been working around Dee Marsh on nights the past couple of weeks as picop, such a shame the amount of vegetation there. 

 

Is they yard still DB or is it GBRf now?

[Ray H]

Is the new bridge one that will be slewed over as a replacement for the existing one?

[big jim]

7 hours ago, Ray H said:

Is the new bridge one that will be slewed over as a replacement for the existing one?

No it’s on its permanent base now, dropped in place over the previous weekend I think, it’s only a couple of tracks wide compared to the existing 6 track wide bridge, I’ll have to have a look at the HS2 maps to see if I can figure it out

Edited September 17, 2023 by big jim

[big jim]

3 hours ago, CazRail said:

I've been working around Dee Marsh on nights the past couple of weeks as picop, such a shame the amount of vegetation there. 

 

Is they yard still DB or is it GBRf now?

It’s certainly a jungle in the yard now, there were guys chopping it back in the neck toward shotwick last week, the yard itself is still DB  

[CazRail]

3 hours ago, big jim said:

It’s certainly a jungle in the yard now, there were guys chopping it back in the neck toward shotwick last week, the yard itself is still DB  

I thought it was still DB. 

 

We were accessing through the sidings at Shotwick couple of nights last week, was surprised to see the ground position lights still working. Just a shame nothing's been in there for a good number of years now.

[big jim]

Day off today so went to the model Railway show in Bala, after having a look round there I went to the railway in Llanuwchllyn and took a ride back to Bala 

 

Holy war was about to depart for Bala

 

View from the signal box 

 

Nicely restored, my dad fitted all the windows to it over the winter 

 

I waited for the next train as it was going to be Alice hauling it

 

it came in with George B from Bala 

 

 

View down the line toward Bala

mini wickham 

 

George B on shed 

 

Flag halt, back in mainline days the landowner used to have his own signal to get the trains to stop at his station!

 

llangower, passing Holy War 

 

 

Couple of views of the lake 

 

 

into Bala

 

after introducing myself I had a little footplate ride while it ran round 

 

And coupled back up

 

sat behind the loco for the return trip 

 

 

Llangower

 

Bottom of the bank outside Llanuwchllyn 

 

got a nice video of Alice working hard up the bank

 

 

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by big jim

[corneliuslundie]

Where is the "jealous" icon?

Seriously, very nice to see. Many, many years ago my wife and I visited the railway. When whoever was in charge realised that I was interested we were given the key of the loco shed and told we could look around.

Jonathan

[big jim]

A quick can you just, Class 69 from longport to Doncaster, got asked to do it and just over two hours later i was on my way! 
 

730 unit in crewe 

 

69010 ready to roll

 

the path was via the west mids, coleshill, toton and barrow hill, a good 5 hour trip but as I’m in tomorrow morning I got the path changed and I needed to be home for 9pm!
 

Rotherham masborough 

 

 

into Roberts road, took me 2 hours going via uttoxeter and derby

 

 

tomorrow is a possession between Ludlow and craven arms 

 

 

Edited September 18, 2023 by big jim

[dunwurken]

Why try and send you on a five hour trip when a two hour one was available?

[big jim]

29 minutes ago, dunwurken said:

Why try and send you on a five hour trip when a two hour one was available?

It’s an as required path that goes via routes that lots of drivers sign so it can be covered easier (even if it takes 3 drivers to do the route as a whole) whereas I sign the ‘unusual’ direct route via uttoxeter and derby to clay cross so can ask to do that instead 

[woodenhead]

19 minutes ago, big jim said:

It’s an as required path that goes via routes that lots of drivers sign so it can be covered easier (even if it takes 3 drivers to do the route as a whole) whereas I sign the ‘unusual’ direct route via uttoxeter and derby to clay cross so can ask to do that instead 

Made me think of the old Spitting Image show, when Steve Davis was looking for a nickname and he came up with 'Interesting'

 

We've got an LE move to do 5 hours fuel, lets give it to 'Unusual', he'll use 2 hours.

[SM42]

On 16/09/2023 at 23:43, big jim said:

No it’s on its permanent base now, dropped in place over the previous weekend I think, it’s only a couple of tracks wide compared to the existing 6 track wide bridge, I’ll have to have a look at the HS2 maps to see if I can figure it out

 

My understanding is that two tracks will be slewed over to make room for a viaduct support for the HS2 flyover into Curzon St. 

 

Even though the road underneath is closed, people still try their luck. The concrete blocks are harder to move than the cones that they replaced 😁

 

Andy 

[big jim]

5 minutes ago, SM42 said:

 

My understanding is that two tracks will be slewed over to make room for a viaduct support for the HS2 flyover into Curzon St. 

 

Even though the road underneath is closed, people still try their luck. The concrete blocks are harder to move than the cones that they replaced 😁

 

Andy 

Since they put the blocks in I’ve had to dodge moped riders using pavement as a thoroughfare, surprised a car hasn’t given it a try yet! 

[SM42]

12 minutes ago, big jim said:

Since they put the blocks in I’ve had to dodge moped riders using pavement as a thoroughfare, surprised a car hasn’t given it a try yet! 

 

Only a matter of time in the wild west AKA Birmingham's road network 

 

Andy

[adb968008]

69009 staying under cover a bit longer then ?