EddieB

Leaving my Cortina at a local station, and unhitching the pitchfork from the roof-rack, I tried out the benefits of through running from the Essex direction last week.

Interchange at Stratford was pretty straightforward, but I found that trains from Shenfield join the line from Abbey Wood before Whitechapel rather than Liverpool Street.  (The on-board maps in the carriage showed the original plan - those on the return journey the correct arrangement).

To continue beyond Paddington it was necessary to change trains - not an problem, as it meant getting out and waiting for the next service (3-minute interval).

Going to/from the tunnel sections involved a short stop in both directions.  (Signalling system switch over?).  Coming back, there was something of a queue building outside Paddington, where terminating services interleave with those coming from Heathrow/Reading and a little lateness can cause backlogs.

All very good, and I'm pleased that there is now a straightforward access to the Elizabeth line from the East.

One comment - it would be helpful on the surface section from the Heathrow/Reading to Abbey Wood to make a distinction (e.g. describe as "semi-fast") for trains that don't stop at all intermediate stations.  Catching a train outwards from Paddington, you can work out from the destination whether stops are made at Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Hanwell, but it's not so clear in the opposite direction.  While this information is given on the describer boards, you have to wait for the display to scroll to the right page - not always easy if you're boarding in a hurry.  (The Metropolitan line generally gets it right).

So CH interviewed by Lee McKenzie on C4 saying how much Max has matured over the last couple of years.  Then Max doing everything to prove him wrong.

Max still hasn’t learnt that, unlike the rest of the field, he cannot bully his way past Lewis.  His defence to George in the Sprint was aggressive, but George showed a greater maturity in picking the right time to pass - Max doesn’t have the same ability to see the bigger picture.  With Lewis on the inside at turn 1, there was never going to be room to pass into turn 2 and Max could have backed out to find a better track position to set up a possible move over the next few corners.

The refusal to play the team game with Checo shows that Max is still a spoilt brat.  He may be a mercurial driver, but hard to respect him as a champion.

29 minutes ago, SR71 said:

Interesting race. I only saw C4 highlights which seem to be getting worse by the race at the moment. I presume they have had a change of editor.

Agreed, but the time limitation imposed must make it difficult to know what to cut out when there’s a lot of action in the race.  I don’t remember seeing both Ferraris get past Perez, for example.  What could be cut out is some of the repeats of overtakes already shown.

We shall remember them no longer?

Today being remembrance day and I travelled around and across London.  In so doing, I must have walked past, shared train carriages and generally come across around a thousand other people.  During that whole time, I counted just a dozen wearing poppies.

In previous years there were poppy sellers in shops, stations and streets, this year barely any.

Has our nation lost its sense of history, or forgotten those who gave in recent years?

This year we have cadets being refused permission to march on Sunday.

At least many of the trains have poppy vinyls attached.

11 hours ago, Re6/6 said:

Rob, How about going Italian with one of these?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsZvy25b68w Turning off the sound is recommended!

 

I've got one for the planned Swiss Industrial layout. OK, it's an Italian loco but hey..... it will be used for the non-energized tracks in the warehouse yard. It's a lovely little thing!

Italian only in the sense of a Rivarossi model, because the prototype comes from East Germany.  They were designated EL16 or ASF ("Akkuschleppfahrzeug" = battery towing vehicle) and used mainly for moving larger locomotives around depots or at industrial sites.  Production ran to over 500 machines, with around a quarter exported to Poland.  (Before Rob asks, three went to Czechoslovakia, but I don't know where or how classified).

The upright Breuer tractor (mobile convenience?) also originated in Germany and was designed to allow stock to ride up on the sloping chassis, thus adding adhesive weight.  Badoni in Italy and Tampella in Finland built some under licence.  

12 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

Did any of these end up in the old Czechoslovakia ? ........as in running on the CSD.

 

Rob

Yes, they were class T200.2 (running nos. T200.201-T200.222, with T200.220 used twice).  There were variations and not all of the class members were of the "classic" Köf (diesel) or Kbf (petrol) type - e.g. T200.209 was a Deutz petrol shunter of similar type illustrated up thread (going to Mödling in Austria after the war).

My Czech isn't up to looking up details, but they appear to have lasted in service on CSD until 1962, with some ending up in industrial service.

Livery appears to have been red/yellow (similar to the T212.0 class). 

1 hour ago, whart57 said:

For my next instalment (I do hope someone else contributes as well some time 😀).

Ok, then I'll contribute a photo of the SRT 3000 class from Henschel (DHG1200).  As you say, a smaller version of the V160 and something of a standard type - I've seen similar locos in Spain (DHG1200) and Bulgaria (DHG1100 - some sold on to Argentina). 

Nos. 3016 and 3015 standing outside Thonburi shed, February 1991.

Well if using the wall is the way to drive ovals, perhaps a new dawn beckons for Latifi?

When you consider that Max had a couple of retirements while leading races at the start of the season, his attainment of “just” fourteen wins (so far) shows the dominance of the Red Bulls this season.

With Mercedes struggling and Ferrari doing all they could to scupper their chances, I can’t say that avoiding the overspend would have made a difference.  Extended the season, perhaps, but unlikely to have altered the championship positions.

A sad day when there’s little comment here on yesterday’s race, compared to the off-track “politics”.

Almost impossible to confirm, but it struck me as slightly suspicious that Lewis was shown a black & white flag for exceeding track limits straight after the same for Max.  Lewis had been on the radio complaining about Max, so it was rather ironic, or very bad judgement, to be found to have committed the same offence.

3 hours ago, 009 micro modeller said:

That bridge was built when it was part of the Central line, so was only high enough for tube stock originally. Wouldn’t the other structures (suited to full size British stock but not Finnish) have been a bigger issue in some ways?

Of course, I don’t think the scheme was ever practical - just that the bridge was the final straw.

Indeed the findings have been misunderstood and misrepresented in social media (used as a term of ridicule), including the clip shown where the presenter has failed to compare the 80% kill rate against 100% from the unaltered Wuhan/Washington strain (as measured in mice “designed” to succumb to the latter).

Some of the reasons behind the Boston research are given in the fact checker, but the basic premise of combining the most deadly with the most transmissible forms should be questioned: the potential to develop as a bio-weapon or pose significant danger in the event of a lab leak.

2 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Fernando Alonso: Alpine driver questions Formula 1 direction after US GP penalty

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/63381586

 

Once again highlights the lack of consistency and spoiled what was a great recovery drive from Alonso.

I also thought Russell’s penalty a bit harsh, even though he admitted error and apologised.  Sainz had taken an unusual line and turned in, Russell had entered the first turn on a more conventional route, but was unable to brake hard enough when Sainz appeared in front.

Finally, credit where due, Vettel had an outstanding drive and would have probably finished a well-deserved sixth but for that troublesome pit-stop.

Amongst other considerations, I think it was clearance under the M11 bridge that caused the plans to be abandoned.  As it was, the track bed needed to be lowered to accommodate British loading gauge stock.

15 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said:

Red Bull have got so far ahead since the opening round that it raises the question of "how?".

Neweygate?  I guess the question is whether Adrian Newey is not only acknowledged as the best, but is in a league of his own.

I’m not defending the self-seeking originators of the sensational reports (present and previous), the press for publishing such rubbish or others drawing attention to them (here and elsewhere).  I wouldn’t disclose the precise location (this is a public section of the forum), having merely pointed out that access specifically to the locomotive in question is “open” and does not involve a criminal act.    What goes for other sites “visited” by “urban explorers” is another matter and outside the remit of my posts. 

13 hours ago, br2975 said:

.My garden has a low wall, abutting the street.

.

My garden has no obvious restrictions or signage.

.

That doesn't translate to an invitation to any Tom, Dick or Harry to wander in and take photos on my property.

With respect, I would consider there to be quite some difference between a walled off domestic property and waste land beyond a retaining wall.  Of course, as I'm unfamiliar with your property, it would be inappropriate of me to comment further.

2 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

For "Urban Explorer" read criminal. Does he seek permission before entering these properties? 

OTT.  The locomotive is in the open, in a patch of what appears to be overgrown wasteland.  From what I remember there are no obvious restrictions or signage, just a low wall at the boundary of a car park.

The loco is well-known, having been at its present location for over thirty years!  Once one among many at that site, the other Finnish imports have been dispersed around the country.  Tr1 no. 1077 never made it as far as Ongar.

The only Harry Potter connection is the report itself, by the "adventurer" responsible for the "discovery", is a load of hogwarts!

20 hours ago, burgundy said:

My particular favourite in Germany was the Großherzoglich Oldenburgische Staatseisenbahnen. For the first 20+ years of its existence, it managed with 2 axle locos (over 90 of them) of which the locos of one series were named Schnipp, Schnapp, Schnurr, Hin, Her, Kurz, Klein, Abel, Burr, Tick, Tack, Tuck, Puck, Muck, Schnuck and Holm. Most of the others had place names, but someone seems to have had a real wobble with this batch. 

Best wishes 

Eric  

Meanwhile the Köln-Mindener Eisenbahn named a batch of thirty 0-6-0s from Beyer Peacock after towns in England.

Perhaps the problem with Trip Advisor is that there is no way to know whether the reviewer has actually bought/stayed/eaten or otherwise sample the object of their review.  Knowing that would at least filter out spurious reviews (shills, axes to grind, possible competitors) - which is where some hotel booking sites have a slight advantage.

Some things to look for (in both the reviewers' history and style of comments) have been pointed out already.  However it can be useful to find similar comments across multiple reviews (reviewer caveats notwithstanding) that touch upon things that could affect your enjoyment - e.g. cold, noisy, dirty, rude - and any responses from proprietors.

Out of interest, do you drive in Singapore?  For getting around the buses have always been good, and obviously the MRT has made public transport more useful.  The road charging and metering in private vehicles is quite off-putting, but if you want to explore over the other side of the Causeway, owning or having access to a car is more necessary.

18 hours ago, DavidB-AU said:

Actor Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, has died aged 72.

 

He also appeared in ITV detective drama Cracker and the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63261204

No mention then of the many parts played by Coltrane in the short film of the classic Peter Sellers sketch, directed by Micky Dolenz?

“Honey’s off, dear”.

There is precedent.  Cars have been disqualified when found to have parts that didn't conform to the regulations (I think of Kevin Magnussen's first race).  Any newly developed parts added after the cost cap was breached should therefore  considered as outside regulations and lead to disqualification.

Ok, it's harder for the FIA to monitor teams' spending within a season, but the teams must know their budgets and should have been told in advance how the rule would apply.