Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

So there we have it, assessed and passed out to drive on ERTMS level 2 down the Cambrian, I already sign to Machynlleth so the next job is to sign over to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli

 

‘Steadfast’ asked whether ERTMS makes road learning easier? Personally I think yes it does, as all the info is right in front of you but you still need to get out there and ‘get a feel’ for the line, gradients, landmarks etc, passenger train wise youbalso need to know the station braking points for places without block markers, not so important on freight/IM trains but personally I like to know the stations ‘just in case!’

 

Collecting the stone blower at tallerddig

 

Waiting at Welshpool

 

For those who don’t know Welshpool the station was moved when the by pass was built, the building was kept and is now an Edinburgh wooden mill shop and the bypass is on the trackbed for a short distance with the current line skewed across a number of meters, it’s also double line from Welshpool to fron jn which it never was in RETB days, it speeds things along a bit as trains can pass each other at speed before the station (on the Newtown side) rather than having to wait in the platform

Edited January 26, 2018 by big jim

[mozzer models]

Jim do you get as far down as Neath ??

[big jim]

No, Hereford is my limit on the marches, next up I’m hoping to get back down the heart of wales to Llandrindod wells and get that signed

[johnb]

That seems to be an awful lot of routes that you cover Jim. How long before you need a refresh? I mean if you cover a lot, you cannot get to do them all that often.

Obviously you must keep your own notes about the routes and read them up regularly. But there must be a limit at some point.

 

Must be very interesting going over all these routes with essentially special trains. Love to read about your experiences from my armchair.  Keep the photos coming!!!

 

John

[big jim]

We have a road learning program that notes when you last went over a route and notifies you when you are getting near he time you need a refresh then you can request a road refresh day, it logs you as having travelled over the route and updates the central database accordingly

 

Controlnhave access to everyone’s routecard so they can see if a driver signs a route (and is in date) before maybe calling him up to work last minute or diverting a train due to an issue as happened to me the other week on the logs, we were late and were going to end up stuck behind a possession but network rail asked control if the driver knew a certain route and control checked the database, confirmed I did and they diverted me (iirc there was a fellow rmwebber in the controlling box at the time too)

[big jim]

Just 3 from last night, possession in Rhyl

 

Getting ready to drop ballast from auto hoppers

 

And once done ran round to the other end, before crossing over to the upside to depart

 

Was a long train, 5 autos, side tippers, falcons, coalfish 1600ft long and 2500 tons going in (1500 tons plus coming out)

 

And into Basford hall and loco stabled with a couple of 56s

 

And that was that, NMT the rest of the week

[corneliuslundie]

I assume some work is planned on the Cambrian line soon as there were two men painting numbers on chairs in Newtown station the other day (the platforms are still bullhead). Does that mean that you will be this way again shortly?

Jonathan 

[big jim]

I think work starts in a few weeks but it’s mainly down tallerddig renewing rails I think

[big jim]

Some from today, NMT derby to Carlisle

 

37198 in derby, I believe this is going to be a Christmas tree to keep the 97s running according to rail mag

 

Then into derby with NMT

 

Quick stop in preston, cup of tea time!

 

And off it went from carlisle

 

Bringing it back the other way tomorrow carlisle to crewe

[5BarVT]

Was on 1M09 this morning and passed NMT at Lockerbie. Think I saw you waiting on the ‘grass’ at Carlisle. If so, it was me on platform 4 at Preston with camera and a wave. I’ll upload a photo when I get back home.

Paul.

[big jim]

Yes that was me at the picnic table in carlisle and I did see you in preston too!

 

Carlisle, there can’t be many Barbie 156s left now

 

White pendolino leaving, much arier now the scaffolding is slowly being removed and the new roof is on

 

Panorama view

 

And in came my train, complete with snow

 

Then it was a blast up to crewe, into Lnwr and back out to the station before it headed off to london

 

On it again in the morning but in a short hop derby to stoke

[big jim]

Last day of NMT this week, derby to stoke

 

Ready to depart

 

Changing ends

 

 

And off in stoke

 

 

https://youtu.be/QRntBaSmifc

 

153 under the overall roof

 

In tomorrow night next, pass to Bristol to brake test a train then sit on it until I take it over at Didcot for the run back to derby

 

Then Saturday night is an interesting job and is going to be a good one for anyone who has pre ordered the Hornby Colas 67 and wants to run it with certain Bachmann freight wagons (watch this space!)

Edited February 1, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from last night, started in Bristol to brake test a UTU

 

 

 

Which I then stayed on and took over at Didcot for the run to derby

 

 

Back in tonight with a ballast to Lime st

[big jim]

here's a little teaser for later.....

 

[Powerhaul 70 Pey]

Great photo Jim look forward to the rest. Thanks for the heads up on this train. Nice to meet you at Warrington Bank Quay.

[Great Western]

I was worried whether you would go through plat four at Bristol Parkway as per my trust screen.

3Q21 I think it was, change ends at Severn Tunnel East, nice green run through my patch - although you had the Up Sleeper on your tail up from Temple Meads.

Edited February 4, 2018 by Great Western

[5BarVT]

Back to last month (Wednesday): Big Jim at Preston with NMT.

 

Paul.

[Luke Piewalker]

Good to see the light returning to Citadel

[big jim]

I was worried whether you would go through plat four at Bristol Parkway as per my trust screen.

3Q21 I think it was, change ends at Severn Tunnel East, nice green run through my patch - although you had the Up Sleeper on your tail up from Temple Meads.

 

 

dunno what it did, once the train was brake tested i was in the train catching zzzz's as my next bit of the job was at 05:10!

[big jim]

so here we go, aspecially for anyone who has ordered a Hornby colas 67 and is wondering what to run it on other than yellow network rail coaches!

 

had the pair of them last night to lime st on a ballast, 7 falcon wagons (available from Dapol and Bachmann)

 

basford hall, 67027 on the rear

 

67023 leading

 

 

97s off down the cambrian too

 

 

 

i then ran to lime st via springs branch

 

we then chopped off the lead loco and ran it back on to the other one to double head out of lime st

 

 

stopped at earlestown waiting for a possession to be lifted

 

 

and stopped again in warrington to let a pendolino pass

 

 

and finally into basford hall

 

moving them back to derby tomorrow before a move to barrow hill with some 37s

[iands]

so here we go, aspecially for anyone who has ordered a Hornby colas 67 and is wondering what to run it on other than yellow network rail coaches!

 

had the pair of them last night to lime st on a ballast, 7 falcon wagons (available from Dapol and Bachmann)

 

basford hall, 67027 on the rear

 

67023 leading

 

 

97s off down the cambrian too

 

 

 

i then ran to lime st via springs branch

 

we then chopped off the lead loco and ran it back on to the other one to double head out of lime st

 

 

stopped at earlestown waiting for a possession to be lifted

 

 

and stopped again in warrington to let a pendolino pass

 

 

and finally into basford hall

 

moving them back to derby tomorrow before a move to barrow hill with some 37s

Hi Jim,

 

Nice set of photos.

 

What was the purpose for "double heading" rather than leaving the 67s "topped and tailed?

 

Regards, Ian.

[big jim]

we weren't sure how a single 67 would handle the climb out of Lime St to edge hill, as it happened i recon it would have done it solo easily but we didnt want to find out the hard way had it not been able to do it, in multi they absolutely flew once i left the possession and began to climb past broad green to rainhill, very impressed by them

[iands]

we weren't sure how a single 67 would handle the climb out of Lime St to edge hill, as it happened i recon it would have done it solo easily but we didnt want to find out the hard way had it not been able to do it, in multi they absolutely flew once i left the possession and began to climb past broad green to rainhill, very impressed by them

Thanks for that Jim. I assume if left as "top and tail" in that situation, for the rear loco to act as banker, would require extra crew which would be a bit wasteful of resources?

 

Regards, Ian?

[big jim]

Yeah it could give a helping shove if needed but as you say you would need an extra driver, radios etc

[iands]

Yeah it could give a helping shove if needed but as you say you would need an extra driver, radios etc

Thanks Jim. Although the GSMR would negate the need for additional radio's, there's no way round the need for an additional driver!

 

Regards, Ian.