mikejames

in the conwy valley there are several castles the most visable is Dolwyddelan near the station of that name. Quite a walk! mike james

what's wrong with 37254? Is it a 'problem loco' or just you see too much of it? thanks for all the info. regards mike j

@125 _driver The only question mark was an 0700 from Glasgow to Plymouth which was a WR set, but i think this may be via the ECML, though if anyone can confirm I'd be grateful.... In the summer 1990 public timetable (weekdays) 7.00 am glasgow (queen st)is via edinburgh and newcastle etc but is shown to penzance arriving at 18.17 calling at most major cornish stations It was called The Cornishman There was also a train called the cornish scot leaving glasgow central 9 44 and using west coast route arriving in plymouth 18.11 and calling major cornish stations arriving penzance 2020 mike james

sorry In my earlier post I didn't list all the calls because I was indicating the route. I think all the calls are Newquay Par Liskard Plymouth Bristol TM Derby Sheffield Doncaster York Darlington Durham Newcastle Berwick Edinburgh Falkirk Glasgow. Its a bit tricky as you have to visit several tables. mike james

hi I have the time table (summer 90) (may also have 91? as i have several about then) It goes up the east coast Derby - Sheffield-Newcastle edinburgh glasgow (Queen st) (I think it avoided Bham new s) If you want, I can photocopy a couple of pages and send them if you send me your email address. no cost. there seem to be other intercity holiday maker including an 8.10 ex Penzance to glasgow central also a penzance york regards mike james

if it is acocks green (and I don't recognise it) then the first section of 'four track' ( I think it was just to Olton?) had the two up lines together and the two down lines similarly placed- and they were swaped to alternate up down up down (and a siding) either when the north warwick line was opened or the four track was extended further south. I dont remember which. So if in that period it is 'right line'. mike james

a bit off topic but I wonder why they originally used 'fancy' valancing anyway? some plane wooden boards would seem to do the job just as well and would have been cheaper. what did the valancing achieve for the 12 inch to the foot railways. Happy new year everyone. mike j

I hope you and family get a good christmas day between you driving the trains mike j

be realistic the rules were changed at VERY short notice To expect the TOCs to respond in 'a few minutes' is unrealistic To blame people is fair To blame TOCs is not Mike James

It doesn't look much of a load but I guess it takes time to build up? I suppose deciding to run a new 'flow' is a commercial judgement. Mike j

It seems to me the report is making a valid point which is ' why is the GPS data incorrect/missing?' I'm sure the relevant people are looking at it but it seems a highly relevant point to highlight. I thought highlighting 'real issues' was the main part of RIABs job mike james

On 05/11/2020 at 14:36, Mark Saunders said: Manchester is still moving its domestic waste to Widnes for incineration! I was under the impression manchester now sent a lot of domestic waste to runcorn for burning certainly at lease one train a day each way through altrincham

hello my understanding is that the signalling problem is at hazel grove - so I don't understand why all the lines towards manchester from crewe are blocked. I thought most of the freight went via the 'airport line' (not actually to the airport) via east didsbury. why is it causing so much headache for freight? mike j

'Dirty diesel' posted on a tread about 'new stations in wales'. By implication he is a signaller at/for LLJ so probably knows mike james Posted June 13 Llandudno & BF did have an all year round Sunday service from last December timetable change until the flood closed the BF branch in February. BF branch closed till September now, we’ve had a few stone/spoil trains up the BF branch in the last two weeks. Slate waste will start running from January, train will start from the Buxton area and will be loaded up in the old Glan Conwy Freight yard (the old oil dept road next to BF branch). Phase two is to run trains from BF. Llandudno Junction yard will be cleared of the jungle once the summer nesting season is over. We have asked that we (NR) can stable units/tampers in the old yard next to where the old mess rooms & TCI office use to be. Stu LJ Signaller

In my mind the question is 'Is HSx to go to Scotland eventually' and how should that be planed for. You can then ask 'how should the Liverpool/Manchester/Leeds etc link with this to provided a joined up system' Similarly 'how does the East Midlands link in' I know HS2a is about capacity on the WCML in the south so that has to be the start but without at least an outline plan for north of Manchester /Leeds it seems very hard to plan the links -

there seem to be a lot of unanswered questions. is the eastern arm of hs2 to be cancelled - or (just) delayed. a (new) station in manchester which could allow HS trains to go further north via either the west coast or Leeds and east coast seems to allow considerable fexibility so seems good -but what is intended for the 'trans pennine' bit. A long new tunnel would be great - but is the money there. How would all this affect the east midlands - who could seriously mis out. Overall as I say more questions than answers. We need a long term plan - not a lot of short term announcements. mike james

it seems to be a widely held view on this forum that people will, in future, fly between the UK and Ireland (north or south/eire) and passenger rail connections are, at best, a luxury. do people agree with this statement. if so, what are the consequences for the lines to fishguard/holyhead/stranraer post brexit. And if passenger connections are a 'waste of money' should the lines be closed! The is meant to be a provocative post mike james

the original posting makes it clear the plan is a daily service monday to saturday postings 2 and and 3 may be cleaver but are stupid since there seems no way to 'vote down' a posting I have to resort to posting a critical comment mike james

if I understand correctly, the welsh highland railway have thoughts about Bangor- Caernarfon. It would be worth asking if a 'tourist line' or a standard gauge line would be better value for money. (welsh highland have 'the card' which gives locals a discount) Who knows what tourism will look like in a few years time. I would suggest a look at bangor -caernafon , bangor - amlwch, the conwy valley, llandudno and llanduduno junction ( i.e. LNW rather than GWR north west wales) to see what integrated service in needed and could be provided at what cost. My own view is that all would need massive subsidies - so comes down to asking 'what is (welsh) government policy in this area'. Another question is ' what is the role of Holyhead after we leave the EU?. mike james

re Conwy valley. Does any one know what's going on Its listed as closed until September. I know there was a flood back in feb, and its not a 'high priority' issue but this seems a long time to fix. I just don't know where to look to see if its 'a big job' or 'a not urgent problem'. any pointers to NRs thinking would be welcome. ( I have a 'second home' about twenty yards from the line!!) mike james

sorry to have to ask - but what is a code red bridge? as always thanks for taking time to advise us of the real railway world regards mike j

I agree I don't know what demand is - but the rest of the UK (England) has to show there is a reasonable prospect of a return on investment before it happens Why should wales be different? Mike james

it seems to me a north wales to south wales inside wales is a political rather than a transport objective. If wales wants such a facility then fine - but wales should pay. I don't know how many people wish to travel regularly from south west wales (Pembroke) to north west wales (Bangor) but not many I suspect. For more easterly travel -passing through England shouldn't be a geographical rather than a political problem. I suspect this is a money isn't important discussion mike james

re your remark about NR allowing the MOD to run early because it was light engine. Is that a MOD security issue or what? If it was an actual loaded train would it have been different and with the possessions surely it must have been timed for diversions anyway? then your remark about 'dodging the possessions' whose job is it to work out the new route? Presumably not yours - but obviously you need to 'sign' the route. presumably GB know which routes you sign - but do NR? thanks again for explaining life on the 'real railway' Your input always helpful regards mike j

don't know if this is helpful https://web.archive.org/web/20170411091636/http://www.cumbrianrailways.org.uk/drawingsanddocuments.html mike james edit - probably not as most of the links don't work - but may be worth exploring if desperate mj