Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

Edit: duplicate post

Edited March 25, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

So is the van still at Machynlleth?

No the driver off the 97 took it back!

 

Joking apart when we get rostered these jobs the roster department sometimes don’t understand the logistics and geography of the Cambrian and that it takes over 2 hours to drive to Machynlleth or Aberystwyth from Home or shrewsbury then the train may be miles from anywhere, it’s one of the biggest frustrations about working down there

[corneliuslundie]

"Like" is completely inadequate for your last lot of photos.

Jonathan

[big jim]

Some from yesterday, a bit random as I needed to take my laptop to be upgraded in Manchester so I use drhe opportunity to do some road refreshing of routes that were out of date

 

It didn’t help that northern were on strike though!

 

Voyager

 

Then had a trip out to the airport on a TPE train as I sign the Styal line past it and it was in need of a refresh

 

Been so long since I signed this as a guard the last train I worked there was a 101 DMU and there were only 2 platforms!

 

From there is was out to Wigan, no pics as in the cab and a quick dash back to Manchester again

 

Random tram passing by as I walked back to Piccadilly from the IT department

 

66 passing through, I think this was the old fastline path from Trafford park as I used to love coming through Piccadilly at rush hour with the 56 full chat, screaming along through platform 13!

 

EMT 158

 

Northern 156

 

I then caught the loco hailed arriva service to warrington

 

Into warrington

 

Biomass passing through

 

And from there went home, back in crewe there was a 350 in the awful new WM trains livery, from the side it’s not too bad but the green ends are just plain wrong!

[big jim]

Some from yesterday, 97 crewe to coleham

 

Basford hall

 

97302

 

Coleham with 97304 in the shed

 

Which I had to move outside to get 97302 over the pit

 

 

Then went down to Machynlleth in an arriva train, Aberystwyth bound portion departing

 

And I got on the Pwllheli bit with the driver to do some road learning

 

As far as llwyngwril, as I didn’t fancy an hour in barmouth waiting for the return train, not so bad if the shops are open but soil destroying otherwise!

 

 

Stayed at my mums house last night and am Just about to head back from there to Machynlleth in a bit where I will meet up with 97304 again to have a look at the Aberystwyth route one last time with another driver and collect a tamper

[big jim]

Some from this afternoon, assessing someone and a bit of road learning on the logs

 

Carlisle station with its new glass frontage and roof

 

My train coming in

 

Hellifield

 

 

Warrington

 

 

Class 90 passing through with 3 x 325 units

 

Quick question for markaxlecounter (signaller at horrockford jn) have you seen the albino crow that lives near your signalbox? It was pointed out to me earlier by the driver who has seen it a number of times over the last year

 

And that was that

Edited April 4, 2018 by big jim

[newbryford]

I would have come out and waved as you passed work, but I was distracted by a badly timed phone call......

 

Cheers,

Mick

[mark axlecounter]

I did see you when I was at horrocksford. I was on the phone to the S&T lads at low moor xing.

 

Mark

[big jim]

I thought it was you

[mark axlecounter]

I did try to let you know I had cleared all the signals ( HJ3 & HJ102 ) so there was no holding you back.

I try to give 6j37 a clear run.

You looked fed up when I saw you Jim

 

Mark

[big jim]

Bored!

[big jim]

Some from today, had to catch a train to Bescot via Rugeley

 

 

 

Top and tail 70 to banbury (and onward to Marylebone with another driver)

 

 

66001 (spot the fox)

 

One of GBRf’s ‘new’ 66s

 

 

Not long after I left I got a call from the box to say there had been a fatality at marston green and could I go via New st and Tyseley which luckily I sign so off I went, Perry Barr, soho, new st, grand jn, Bordesley, Tyseley, Leamington and banbury, the joys of doing IM work and signing lots of useful diversions!

 

And into banbury 90 minutes early

 

Quick dash over the bridge for a train home to save being picked up by another member of staff who was still on the M6 heading toward me as I was so early!

 

That’s it for tonight

[jamesg]

Another great set of photos Jim.  I especially like the lineup at Bescot alongside 66003, the perspective is spot on.

 

I saw 70804 and 70811 move to Bescot as part of 6M50 Westbury to Bescot on Thursday.  Must have been some interesting shunting to get everything into place at Bescot.

[mark axlecounter]

Sorry Jim just saw your post about the white crows. Yea they are still there causing trouble ha ha.

They went to settle last year but the must of pefered the bread we give them because they are back.

 

Mark Towers

[big jim]

Only managed a couple from last night, UTU crewe to Rugby via the West Midlands

 

Crewe Lnwr

 

In the station

 

 

And into Stafford

 

And Home, lots of training next week which I can tie in with road learning the S+C to finally get it boxed off once and for all

[mark axlecounter]

I’m at horrocksford on nights Thursday and Friday. Pity I could of shown you the box ha ha

[25901]

Nice bit of colour today at York with a Colas 70 working the Drax 6H70

[big jim]

Some form today, had to do some training in Kingmoor before road learning on the logs to hellifield

 

Carlisle, bendy bus

 

NMT rolled in too

 

6K50

 

NMT again

 

Picked up my train to head to hellifield, road learning the s+c

 

And into there where I caught a northern service back to carlisle so I could see it northbound

 

And back into carlisle, Cumbrian coast 68s

 

And an ex chiltern 67, looked to be on a road learning trip of some sort

 

Back to it tomorrow but all the way through to warrington before being assessed and passed out on the route Wednesday which I’m looking forward to

[MarshLane]

All the best for your assessment on Wednesday Jim! Superb photos as ever - doesn't that roof at Carlisle look great now its finished!

 

Rich

Edited April 9, 2018 by MarshLane

[newbryford]

 

 

Picked up my train to head to hellifield, road learning the s+c

 

 

And into there where I caught a northern service back to carlisle so I could see it northbound

 

 

 

Back to it tomorrow but all the way through to warrington before being assessed and passed out on the route Wednesday which I’m looking forward to

 

Busy all day today - didn't get to come out and wave......

 

Cheers,

Mick

[big jim]

I was beginning to think it was me!

 

I’ll be back through again tomorrow, did you get out for the NMT, that passed us at Horton in ribblesdale when I was heading back north

[newbryford]

I was beginning to think it was me!

 

I’ll be back through again tomorrow, did you get out for the NMT, that passed us at Horton in ribblesdale when I was heading back north

 

No - they keep me locked up out of the way (for now...).

 

TBH, I was too busy to look at RTT. Will try again tomorrow.

[ess1uk]

Top and tail Colas 37 NR test train round St Denys today

[newbryford]

Jim at the helm of 6J37 today...

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

Edited April 10, 2018 by newbryford

[big jim]

Nice pic, I only managed 2 today!

 

 

 

Got delayed by a fallen ‘tree’ near culgaith which when we got there was nothing more than a large branch at buffer height which the 60 would have demolished anyway!

 

Then an axle counter failure at horroxford jn delayed us futher so I was about 30 late into warrington

 

moster trip tomorrow carlisle right through to Chirk to be assessed and assess then a cambrian job on Thursday before being let out solo on the s+c Friday and Saturday!