RRU

So the driving controls are basicly the same. That was my main point. I know each vehicle has it`s own feel to it which you usually get into after the first hour or so. Remember I am looking at this from a road transport viewpoint. Here a driver was given a vehicle to drive and told to get on with it. Peter

How to avoid the lengthy driver training that goes on with each new locomotive or train. Have a standard set of driving controls for all powered rail vehicles. Then, when any new train is introduced, it will be able to go straight into service. After my 21st birthday I was able to road test any of our vehicles because the driving controls were and still are the same. We had the same chassis with different bodies and the same bodies on different chassis, it didn't matter. They were all the same to drive. If you buy a new car, do you have to be re-trained as to how to drive it? No, you get in it and go. Why not have a set of standard controls for the railway? Peter

Thanks Jim and Trog. It`s all very interesting. I have seen bolts reversed as you say, now I know why. Peter

Thanks for the replies chaps. There is always someone with the answer. The boys are still playing with their new trains. Here are some shots taken on the 15th of August at Scarborough. 12809 propelled by 68027 “Splendid”. This is 802 204 leaving. 68023 “Achilles” See my next post for my solution to all this dead mileage. Peter

Thanks for that, Jim. It looks like trains are going to be serviced at Scarborough. The sidings have been ballasted and a long servicing bay built plus fuel tanks at the far end. The only access to these sidings is via platform one since the station was re-modelled. Peter

Two more track related photo`s. I saw this at Seamer station partway along the platform. Any ideas what it is? This point motor at Scarborough sounded as though it was powered by an old clockwork motor. After the two bolt fishplates at Malton, look at those behind the point motor. But I cannot see a joint there.

Thanks caradoc for your replies. You points have been taken onboard. York station heaving today due to the Ebor meeting. Straw boaters and fasinators galore. 35018 "British India Line " on the SSE today. Here it is at Scarborough. And here it is departing. It took 11 hours of travelling and waiting to get that shot. It looks like i`m going again next week. Oh dear, what a shame, never mind. That`s not all. On the way back I was bitten on the leg. When I got off the train my leg was itching and when I got home it was worse and now I have two big lumps on the back of my leg. Don`t laugfh. Peter

That is what I was thinking. SSE running again tomorrow and it`s the Ebor meeting at York so the trains are going to be busy. Peter

There are seven crossings with automatic half barriers and several more farm crossings and not a signal anywhere. What if a vehicle stops on the crossing for whatever reason? There is no way to stop the train. The line here is dead straight for many miIes so is this why the train just tootles along? Is the driver driving on sight? Peter

Thank you for your answer. These are all valid reasons and are possible. But I would just like to make these points. 1) This was the only run it was on. 2) It is the height of summer so no heating needed. 3) The loco had its own support coach attached for use by the support crew. 4) The kitchen car has its own generator for powering the kitchen equipment. I think that is as close as we will get to knowing the answer and so I'll leave it there and move on to the second point regarding this train and the run back to York. It is really two questions in one. It concerns the signalling between Malton and Weaverthorpe. There used to be several signal boxes along this stretch of line but they have now all gone but the level crossings they controlled are still there using half barriers to stop road traffic. However, after travelling on the line several times I cannot see any signals controlling the railway. Now, on the return leg of this SSE the train was brought to a stand at Weaverthorpe most likely to pass a message to the driver and after the restart the next three level crossings were passed at walking speed. Obviously something had gone wrong but the barriers were down at all the crossings but I could not see if the lights were working. So my query is how is this stretch of line now worked with no signals protecting the crossings. Peter

But why was it in the Scarborough Spa Express. It was not carrying any passengers. Were they taking it for an outing? I couldn`t understand what they meant by saying it was needed to help with the brakes. Peter

My first query is about this vehicle and why it was in the train. When I asked one of the train staff he seemed a bit reluctant to tell me, but he did say it was to help the diesel loco or words to that effect. I then asked the fireman and he said it was so they could have a brake. He then ran off and climbed on the engine. Now, did he mean a break or a brake. I think the latter because they were eating their fish and chips whilst sat on the platform seat. The diesel loco`s used that day were 37669 and 37706. Peter

On the last day 8f 48151 was used. This is all leading up to two things on that last day that I am not sure about. Peter

On the second to last and the next to last runs 45690 Leander was used.

One of the few places not to be prone to buckling in the recent hot weather? Peter

Last year the locomotive used on most days was 35018 British India Line, seen here at York, Malton and Scarborough. Peter

Two more. First one leaving York, second one at Scarborough. Peter

The reason for my travels on the railway over the last two years is/was to film the SSE. The loco being used this year is 45699 Galatea. Here are a few pic`s. Three generations of motive power at York 15-8 -19 45699 Galatea, 37669 37706, 66431 Peter

Thanks for the info Jim. There appears to have been some recent maintenance on them going by the spanner marks in the grease and grime. How often they are inspected I do not know. There is no hinderence to the speed of trains because it may not look it from the photo but thr loco is accelerating hard at that point. The strange thing is the sidings along side have four bolt fishplates. Peter

Here is a train using that track. Peter

Thank you Edwin and Jim. That is the first point dealt with. Still on the track theme, whilst waiting at Malton for the SSE, I noticed these fishplates on the up line. This short piece of track which is only used by non stopping trains now, must have been built with these two bolt fishplates throughout. I have never seen two bolt fishplates anywhere else. How common were they?

Thank you Edwin_m. That is a very good answer. It explains why the Commonwealth bogies under the Mk 1 coaches just roll round the curves. But could I just say this. In my experience of suspension dampers, once they have been moved to a new position they then stay there until they are moved again. So you would think that when the bogie has turned into the curve there would be no force on it until the curve straightens out again. Or are these dampers self-centering? Peter

Ah yes, the track, we may as well start there and work upwards. Has there been a change to the track gauge or wheelsets back-to-back measurement? I ask because I have never heard as much squealing from flanges as ther is now. All trains passing through York make a terrible noise exept The Scarborough Spa Express which just glides through. Any ideas? Peter

I have no intention to upset anyone, none of my posts are personal or aimed at any individual. My inquiry is whether I am posting in the correct group. The heading is Discussions not questions, but my posts will be asking for an opinion from railway staff rather than hard technical ones. Just to let you know where I am coming from. I have worked in the bus and coach industry as a mechanic since 1962 and driving part time since 1970 so some of the working practices of the railway differ to what I am used to. This is what I would like to discuss. Peter

Hello everyone. It`s been quite some time since I last posted anything but I have been here reading the other posts, none of which I have been able to reply to. So I decided to start this thread. I would like the panel's opinion as to whether or not they will be willing to reply to my comments, some of which may be controversial. Also, as I have both comments and some questions, I would like to know if I could post them all here as I don't want to start two separate threads because they are all linked together But I do not want to incur the wrath of Mr. Moderator. I will be interested in your replies. Peter