AberdeenBill

Thanks Mark yes it was. HD7214 now shows green for most of the day (after, of course, red and yellow when a southbound train has departed). The second track between Dyce and Aberdeen was laid last (2018) summer but only connected in August this year. Bill

Hi all, The redoubling project for the Aberdeen to Inverurie line is now complete and here are a few infrastructure pictures taken today (14 September 2019) at Dyce: 1) LED signals at the south end of the platforms. These were installed several years ago and originally protected the single-line section immediately to the south but the left-hand signal at least is now automatic and can display a yellow aspect. The right-hand signal will presumably only see emergency use. Dyce signal box was demolished as part of the project and the prefixes have changed from DY to HD. <typo edited> 2) A gradient marker 3) A new-style milepost. Some joker has twisted the top around. 4) Access point information sign 5) Looking north at the new double-track towards Inverurie. A couple of beginner's signal questions. When I walk the dog past the station on a Sunday morning I'm certain that there have been no southbound trains since the previous evening, but signal HD7214 shows red. Can Inverness Signalling Centre 'override' the automatic operation and set it to danger? Looking north, two signals for the left-hand track can just be seen. When a northbound train departs the first one resets to red as it passes and so does the second one in the far distance but that doesn't set the first one to yellow, which takes a couple of minutes more. Are the signals 'too close' for normal track-circuit block operation? Thanks, Bill

Did any cities other than London receive milk in bulk (tankers) by rail? Thanks, Bill

Surely it does? A 'full size' cant-angle of 6 deg for 1435 mm rail separation will have the outer rail 1435 mm x sin(6) = 150 mm = 6 in higher. For 16 mm (OO gauge), 16 x sin(6) = 1.7 mm or for P4, 18.83 mm x sin(6) = 1.97 mm. Or am I (quite likely) missing something? Bill

41 has lost its distant arm but gained a miniature arm for the good loop and the North box is long gone...

Hi all, I refer you to the following accident report on the Railways Archive site: https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Hellifield1955.pdf On the track-plan, signal 43 (Hellifield South Junction down distant colour light) has an 'extra' Aux Y (presumably auxiliary yellow?) aspect. What is/was the purpose of this? Many thanks, Bill

Sorry for such a dopey question, but how is Ranelagh pronounced? Rain-lar ? Thanks, Bill

Hi all, the line between Dyce and Inverurie is currently being redoubled, necessitating a four-month blockade from May to August 2019 and there are plenty of Freightliner 66s employed on engineering trains. A few days ago (25 July), 66561 and 66557 were parked on the newly doubled section just northwest of Dyce. Raith's Farm freight depot, which is normally empty, is being used as the supply base and there were no fewer than four 66s stabled there; 66560, 66957, 66593 and 66956. Thanks, Bill

Thanks Brian and so there is... Interesting location rather than at the other end of the platform but of course colour-lights are not direct replacements for things like semaphore starters... Bill

Hi all, How are train movements regulated in the vicinity of Ribblehead Viaduct? I don't see any sign of signals when checking out the webcams here: http://sandctrust.org.uk/stayatastation/webcams/index.html (but I do see lots of rain...) Thanks, Bill

Hi all, Please note a few photos of the 11:14 from Dyce to Glasgow Queen Street taken today (21 April 2019) at Dyce. Power cars were 43136 (de-branded FGW) and 43146 (Scotrail). Note the 'ATP information label', which mentions London and Bristol and the apparent degree of corrosion around the coach ends, e.g. the rain-strip has fallen off the trailer first. Thanks, Bill

There doesn't seem to be an accident report on the Railways Archive site, perhaps due to the War?? Did the train collide with a wagon fouling the main line, hence the mangled remains to the rear of the signal and the straw scattered everywhere?? Bill

In 1900, there was an Albion Hotel beside Verwood "train" station, which is presumably the same building: https://maps.nls.uk/view/106009005 Bill

Hi John, Their last revenue use was probably around the mid-1970s. So far as I can see there wasn't a specific TOPS code for a Fruit Van and they would presumably have been coded as general ventilated vans (VVV). Thanks, Bill

Hi all, The 11:03 from Inverurie to Glasgow Queen Street (1T78 as per real-time trains) was worked by a 2 + 4 HST today: 43148 + 41022 + 42030 + 42010 + 44010 + 43003. All except the first power car were in de-branded FGW livery with swing doors... The train was five minutes late leaving Dundee, but arrived at GQS five minutes early... Pictures taken at Dyce below. Thanks, Bill

Could a loco be fuelled with the engine running? Happy new Year, Bill

Light army vehicles such as Land Rovers. There's a nice photo somewhere of a 'novelty' advertising van shaped like a beer bottle on a Lowfit at Brockenhurst for delivery to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Bill

This excellent book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Castlemans-Corkscrew-Nineteenth-Bournemouth-Associated/dp/0853616663/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1545076121&sr=8-2&keywords=castleman%27s+corkscrew has a strong focus on the social and political aspects of railway building in the 19th Century. Bill

Hi all, I'm sure I should know this but what do the 'R' signs above the 50 mph speed limit markers mean? Any what about the 'ALL' diamonds? Note the 'check signal aspect' sign on the right. I took this photo last weekend on a trip to London and all trains were standing room only on a Saturday morning. Thanks, Bill

Does anybody know why the Inverness-based RHTT circuit (Inv/Aberdeen/Dundee/Perth/Inv) has not operated the past couple of years? Thanks, Bill

Hi all, This link will take you to a rather off-beat map of the London Underground showing the sections in tunnels... http://content.tfl.gov.uk/tube-map-with-tunnels.pdf For example, the Victoria Line is 100% tunnel whereas the Metropolitan Line is mostly on the surface (good for a pub quiz??). Thanks, Bill

Hi all, When a (mostly steel) wagon or coach was cut up, how small (or light) would the bits be (maybe ready to feed into an electric-arc furnace)? How was the engine block of a diesel dismembered? Thanks, Bill

It's interesting that the GWR and LNER had the same telegraphic code of Toad for a brake van, which was perpetrated in BR days (although not branded onto the vehicle). I wonder what did the SR and LMS called their brake vans? Thanks, Bill

Good question... Lymington Pier box was of modern (1950s?) brick construction. The starter at Lymington Pier was possibly unique in being lower-quadrant (with distant for Lymington Town) on a rail-built post. Bill