Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[newbryford]

 55.8mph was passing through settle

 

 

 

 

It looked faster than that.... There were a few startled pax on the platform.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[jamie92208]

Only one pic today but something a bit different to add

 

60021 again

 

Today I set my GPS tracker running leaving carlisle caldew jn and recorded my track to hellifield, the route learning app uses similar technology but is railway based, the app I used is motion-xGPS which records (and shows) elevation, speed etc (I slipped over the 60mph max once!)

 

Carlisle to hellifield on the map

 

Vital statistics, time, distance, speed, elevation, ascent and decent etc

 

First plot, carlisle caldew bridge at 00:00 climbing on to the S+C, the long drag begins at 00:50 but as you can see it climbs pretty much all the way from carlisle

 

The long drag between 00:50 and 01:20 so 30 mins slog, was down to 24mph at the start at 514ft

 

And at the top at ais gill, managed 44mph over the top which recorded as 1184ft (672ft climb at 4% in 30mins)

 

From there is was pretty much down hill after dent, the dotted line was where I lost signal in Blea Moor tunnel, the 489ft, 55.8mph was passing through settle

 

The other up and down speeds between 01:20 and 01:40 were where I went into various tunnels and lost signal for a short while (less than a minute) and it averaged out the speed

That's absolutely fascinating Jim, thanks for posting it.   In Tuplin's book about Midland Steam he records how there was unofficial rivalry between footplate crews as to how far they could run from Blea Moor south without touching the regulator or brake, or firing.   IIRC the best of them could get as far as the station stop at Skipton though many had to open the regulator roundabout Bell Busk.  Speeds of 80mph were commonplace.   

 

Jamie

[big jim]

Same job again today

 

 

 

50 shades of yellow

 

Farringdon curve jn

 

66750 passing by en route to clitheroe

 

And into warrington

 

Same again tomorrow!

[eastwestdivide]

...

Today I set my GPS tracker running leaving carlisle caldew jn and recorded my track to hellifield, the route learning app uses similar technology but is railway based, the app I used is motion-xGPS which records (and shows) elevation, speed etc (I slipped over the 60mph max once!)

...

So you logged on, and created a log of the logs! 

Fascinating stuff. Would be interesting to compare to the "black box" recording.

[big jim]

Being as people seemed to like the last one, here is another GPS track, this time hellifield to Blackburn

 

Same loco again

 

Running early so time to stop for a toilet break in settle (with permission of the signaller)

 

Hellifield to Blackburn

 

 

I’m amazed how ‘downhill’ the line is, it certainly doesn’t feel it as you have to take power a fair bit to keep the speed up in places, the line speed is 30mph all the way which I pretty much managed to keep to

 

Hellifield 507ft, the first slow bit was approaching the section signal, 28 mins in the blip in speed is approaching horrockford jn on a yellow expecting the signal to be on but it had pulled off when I go to it so powered back up

 

The line drops all the way down to 193ft at the foot of langho bank at the 40 min mark

 

Then to the summit of that part of the line at 467ft just past ramsgreve and Wiltshire station (climbs 274ft in 10 mins!) the blip near the top is where I lost signal in the tunnel for a short while

 

Then drops to daisyfield at 413ft

 

And that was that, logs cancelled tomorrow so got to move a 60 from carlisle to Toton

Edited May 31, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from today, 60085 carlisle to Toton

 

Got to the yard to find it blocked in by a freightliner 66 which after getting permission I moved out of the way

 

Moved the 66 first

 

Then the 60 out of the way and the 66 back!

 

And away to crewe where I had a 45 mins break

 

Then off to derby following the stopper so I stopped in the platform at Blythe bridge while I waited for it to clear the section in front

 

Then when I got to stenson jn there was a signal failure so I ended up going into derby, changing ends and going back out via spondon

 

Toton

 

Couple of lesser spotted 60 round the back of the depot

 

Change ends again to get onto the fuel plant

 

 

This makes me smile in the fuel plant block, railfreight coal tiles in the toilet!

 

Another sad sight of an abandoned 60

 

Taxi to derby where the new platforms are coming on nicely

 

 

97s tomorrow shrewsbury to crewe then back to shrewsbury (97s heading for the Cambrian)

[dvdlcs]

Some from today, 60085 carlisle to Toton

 

Another sad sight of an abandoned 60

 

Surprised to see still wearing its (original?) nameplate. Would have thought they would have been removed for safekeeping. Can't be too many around with the original names.

 

EDIT: Not sure about the weathering job, particularly on the cab nearest the camera. Supposed to blend the brush strokes to create the overall effect...

Edited June 2, 2018 by dvdlcs

[big jim]

Some from yesterday, 97s coleham to crewe light engine then back to coleham where they went off to the Cambrian

 

97303

[/url

 

97304

 

Multied up for the run to crewe

 

Setting up the train, front loco attached

 

And ready to go, other loco on the rear

 

Drs 68

 

GBRf 66s

 

Overview of the yard

 

And off to coleham we went but it was dark by then so no more pics

[big jim]

Just a few from yesterday

 

Class 70s Hinksey to Bescot

 

Left one behind and headed off to Bescot

 

 

Also saw this in Hinksey, never seen a DB coalfish before

 

56 crewe to carlsile today, asked for a path via the s+c for a refresh in the opposite direction!

[dvdlcs]

Also saw this in Hinksey, never seen a DB coalfish before

 

 

Not sure you have seen a DB liveried coalfish, as I don't believe this is a coalfish. Those I believe are the rebodied HAA MGR wagons and are coded MHA. The MFA, as shown, were cut down versions of MEAs, which were box bodies on HEA hopper underframes.

 

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I do appreciate the pictures and commentary that you provide :-)

Edited June 5, 2018 by dvdlcs

[big jim]

It’s got 4 wheels and short ribbed sides, it’s a coalfish to me!

 

Whatever it is I haven’t seen one in that colour before

[Bloodnok]

Not sure you have seen a DB liveried coalfish, as I don't believe this is a coalfish.

Are MFAs and MHAs not both called 'coalfish'? I've seen references to both being described as such...

[newbryford]

There is a DB red MHA as well.

MHA 394829

 

As mentioned, the MFAs are commonly used with the MHA Coalfish so they are often called the same (In the same way that "Hoover" gets used as a generic term for vacuum cleaners)

Similarly, the MLA bogie opens are often called Falcon - which is the given name to the Network Rail JNA fleet.

 

Back on topic:

Jim passed me about an hour ago with 56087 on a light engine move Crewe-Carlisle.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[big jim]

Oh look......

 

 

Another one!

 

EDIT: the one mick mentioned above as it happens!

Edited June 5, 2018 by big jim

[Steadfast]

When they were freshly red painted the pair of them turned up coupled together in a train of coalfish at Westbury. Yes MFA and MTA also come under the title of coalfish, all used indeterminately of each other. Not many MTA left now

 

Jo

[big jim]

And the rest of the pics

 

56078 in Basford hall

 

Settle jn looking towards settle station, the line to the left is the one to Carnforth

 

Into carlisle where Leander was sat after coming in from hellifield, I was booked in front of it but as I was late I followed it along the s+c (but never caught up with it)

 

 

And into Kingmoor to stable with 56105

 

[big jim]

Just one from yesterday, had to show someone round crewe station and happened to see 46100 heading off on a test run while we were up by the signal box

 

https://youtu.be/GmmbMeKT-6c

 

 

This in the evening I had a drive to my mums house so I can road learn to Pwllheli later today, just caught the sunset over the llyn peninsular

 

Edited June 8, 2018 by big jim

[lmsforever]

You get to drive over some fantastic routes  and get to see some lovely sunsets thanks for all the pics .

[big jim]

All that way only to find the train I wanted was cancelled and it was 2 1/2 hours to the next one, it was running as an empty stock train to Pwllheli and fair dos to the driver he stopped to see what I was up to as I was in my hi viz but couldn’t let me on as the wa stunning DOO and the rules state that he ws not allowed to carry anyone at all on the train, he actually phoned up his manager to clarify it too, and he said I wasn’t alllowed on board too which I wasn’t going to argue with, I’m not getting anyone in trouble!

 

Anyway llwyngwril at the moment is subject to a yarn bombing project with various knitted sculptures and diaramas around the village, the station not escaping the treatment

 

 

With that I went home, took the scenic route via corwen, Ruthin, mold and Wrexham for a change

 

If nothing else it was nice to see my mum for the evening, she’d just got back from her chemotherapy in Bangor so was a bit tired but we sat up late having a chat and a good laugh

 

Interesting next week, logs cancelled every day and a loco move Monday then a whole week of road learning Manchester airport chord, Stockport to Sheffield, hazel grove to northernden and a few other ‘missing links’ in the Sheffield area

Edited June 9, 2018 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from today, another mammoth run carlisle to Toton, 210 miles

 

Carlisle

 

 

 

Toton

 

 

 

Road learning the rest of the week

[big jim]

Only took 2 pics today as I was in passenger trains and the phone needs to be turned off in the cab

 

Been road learning the hope valley between Stockport and Sheffield and Sheffield to chesterfield, managed a couple of trips, not too bad a route, not much to it really track wise, lots of boxes and stations to remember though and Sheffield needs a good look around

 

Chesterfield

 

Then on the last trip I stayed on to refresh Stockport to Trafford Park and a quick look over between Trafford Park and Liverpool south parkway before heading home

 

Liverpool south parkway

 

Same again tomorrow but instead of finishing in Liverpool I’ve got to head to london at the end!

[big jim]

Some from today, road learning the hope valley and chesterfield again

 

Sheffield having arrived in from Chesterfield

 

Freightliner cement passing through

 

Then went over to doncaster

 

Grand central 180, lovely livery on these units

 

Evolution pacer

 

EMT hst having arrived in from lincoln

 

TPE heading to Manchester

 

I then had an appointed in london so headed off to there via the ecml

 

Panorama view

 

Another 180

 

Tube to Liverpool st, the signal box caught my eye here

 

90004

 

Joined by 90003

 

And after the appointment it was a rush hour tube ride to Euston at 17:30, that was fun! Pendolino Home and now sitting down with a nice beer contemplating my future!

Edited June 13, 2018 by big jim

[4630]

Tube to Liverpool st, the signal box caught my eye here


 

Great and interesting photos as always, Jim.

 

Fortunately the 'box at Liverpool St is Grade II listed.  I seem to recall reading in Underground News (the monthly publication from the London Underground Railway Society) awhile back that there are/were plans to spruce the box up a bit and restore it to Metropolitan Railway colours.  It's looking somewhat uncared for at the moment.

Edited June 13, 2018 by 4630

[KeithHC]

Contemplating your future does this mean a move from Colas or just the meaning of life from the bottom of a glass of .

 

Keith

[Robert Shrives]

Just to say the knitting bombers do a grand job and I always smile and if I can point it out to others on the train when we stop.

I was on the train before the cancellation - we waited 40 minutes at Harlech for it to roll in on its down run but EBS lifted due to brake fault was the gossip so it was back empty to Mach for a stiff talk with a spanner ,screwdriver and fitter!

 

Robert