Davexoc

Typically wind is up to 15%, biomass about 5% and nuclear 20%. If the sun is out that could be about 5% or more for a few hours. But as they are looking at the lowest daily demand of the year it is all pretty irrelevant because the coal and gas stations have been wound down. If the demand was only around 30GW as compared to a maximum of 60GW, then the 40% claim is only 20% when it matters. Dave

Not sure on the Peaks, but the 47s sometimes did similar. It usually indicated a cracked oil cooler. The oil pressure being higher than the water pressure led to oil seeping into the cooling system, not terminal but when the loco was serviced the coolant header tank would be topped up til overflowing. As a consequence the lighter oil gets forced out of the overflow/vent and it runs down the bodysides, and would also occur on the road as the water temperature rose. And we all know a little oil goes a long way.... Dave

This was the last railtour to run to the end of the line, 14/12/13, can't remember the name, prior to the line being closed for the Chiltern upgrade work. D1015 arrived from Oxford up to Claydon LNE junc, ran round and returned via Aylesbury, with a layover at Quainton. Probably more than trebled the traffic down those country lanes on the day.... Dave

I would agree that the current proposals probably won't reduce traffic levels that much. I live in MK and work in High Wycombe, but even if I could take a train, the bus journey from the station through Wycombe would probably negate any gains from using a train. Now the one thing that would make a huge difference is if all children were made to attend their nearest school and they had to walk there. Journey times this week are 20% quicker...... I travel through Aston Clinton and Wendover every day, rarely have a problem. Avoid Aylesbury like the plague, both A41 and A413 though. If Claydon gets a station, then Verney Junction is so close to Winslow it will all roll into one, so it might as well be at the end of the main street. A western relief road would be a good idea for Winslow. Dave

You've got to love the optimism, 3rd Q when the sun was out and it was mild. Now look at the real picture on a cold foggy evening in December, and that 3.6% for coal is running at 18.8% because total low carbon doesn't even make 20% of demand with wind a mere 1.7%. Someone worked out that if you built an on-shore wind farm to replace Drax, it would be 1000 sq.km. Basically filling an area just south of York to just north of Doncaster, centred on Drax itself. He did go on to work out how much space was required to grow the required Biomass rather than importing it, I don't think we had much space left to grow foodstuffs.... Dave

The other problem is there are too many different recycling schemes, with nearly every council adopting a different strategy. Recent figures put over 40% of recyclables being contaminated and going to landfill or incineration. We need one coherent national scheme. Japan were recycling glass and metal, then burning the rest for power 20 years ago.... Recently the state of the art milk bottle recycling plant went bust. Why? Because by the time you've cleaned them to reuse, it costs more than producing the raw material. There are plenty of ways to recycle materials, but please, choose an effective way, and don't make composites in the first place (hot drinks cups, juice cartons, etc.). Dave

The station opened in 1982, which was only three years after the central shopping centre opened. Although new town designation was 1967, it was 1969 before any new homes were built. In 1975 the population was 64000, and by 1983 it had reached 110000. The need for a central station in the early days was not there as alot of the early development was around Bletchley and Wolverton. Dave

And on towards Verney Junction - the bridge/viaduct over Claydon Brook, just east of VJ Then to within a stones throw of the current end of the operational line - Claydon crossing and station Dave

The only date I have seen mentions the new franchaise system being awarded in 2018. EWR want to get going now, so who knows... Dave

The unidentified DMU is a class 121, most likely 55032, 33 or 34 which towards the end of their careers were Tyseley based. The rest of the class were all WR based. Unusually there is no set number on the front, would have expected a 'Txxx' for Tyseley. It appears to be in passenger service and not departmental, so after 1992. Dave

Moving west to Winslow - Furze Lane bridge Dave

May have suffered from subsidence part way along the building side platform. But kept nicely mown.... Dave

Is this the real reason for postponing all those electrification schemes? The problem lies with renewables. We've put a whole load off eggs in the solar and wind baskets. What has the weather done recently? Its been calm, dull and foggy. So solar has been almost useless, and wind not much better, giving a combined deficit of around 10GW. The recent short cold snap saw Gas, Coal, Biomass, Nuclear and Hydro all running virtually flat out. If the power goes out, it'll be around 1700hrs when peak demand hits. Add a couple more fleets of electric trains and a load more hybrid/electric vehicles that arrive home to be plugged in ready for the next day, and that will tip the balance. Hinkley Point is years away, as are tidal projects, which are more reliable than current renewables. Looks like we need to convert some of the recently closed coal stations to co-fire biomass, and soon..... If you want to see what demand there is, go to http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ Dave

More this time at the Mursley - Horwood road bridge and Swanborne Dave

Some photos from 2014 just before vegetation clearance began. Whaddon - Mursley road bridge area Dave

I don't think there are any buildings that need demolishing, there are a few bridges both over and under to contend with and an aquaduct near Swanbourne. The land has been bought for Winslow station, which I assume is not on the original site which is now houses. The other obstacle is the level crossing near Claydon and the footpaths/occupation crossings. Dave

A couple of years or so ago it was waterlogged around Mursley, Swanbourne was reasonable around the station area, but then that is a private residence, approaching Winslow was overgrown and at the viaduct by Verney junction it was a jungle. Either side of the old crossing at Claydon was also fairly overgrown, but there were signs that the road/rail vehicles had been gaining access at some points and new trespass signs were going up. Dave

Sometimes the tanks are positioned in the unloading area and the loco is not permitted to pass a certain point. This necessitates the use of a reach wagon, this one was once used at Thame BP depot.... http://www.hondawanderer.com/51654_Thame_1988.htm Dave

It might not be greenfield, but unless somebody is regularly clearing the shrubery, it is pretty green.... If they are serious about making it a faster journey, electrification must take place at the earliest opportunity. Don't want the residents of Winslow kicking up a fuss about noisy diesels running behind their houses... Dave

Well does that mean that the new east-west Varsity Line will have to end at Bicester, because that line is going to get a damn sight busier in the coming years. Maybe they'll decide to start the Expressway from around there as well, compulsory purchase, flatten the lot and put a new depot to service the trains and a motorway junction with the A34. Problem solved..... Dave

Heading onto the SR at Acton Wells http://www.derbysulzers.com/25235actonwells84.jpg As for 26 and 27, certainly Carlisle. Class 31s were common on the SR in the 70s on Bristol - Portsmouth workings. Dave

Would have worked across from Willesden onto the SR to Norwood? Don't know how often though. Dave

The problem there is that the council have never done anything to bypass the place. They just build more and more houses, and add more and more traffic lights. The best thing they could do, would be to add a bypass alongside HS2 when that trundles through. I bypass the place twice a day five days a week, using the surrounding country lanes along with hundreds of others. Dave

M40 to M1 is dual carriageway all the way, just goes to Northampton rather than MK. In fact apart from a short stretch between Raunds and Thrapston, it is dual all the way to Cambridge, but somewhat longer. Interesting to see that they have obviously looked at the creaking MK grid system and given it a wide berth. I wonder if the grid would have been finished if the MKDC hadn't been wound up? I know it is very diagramatic in the report, but if the road follows the existing railway line it will be interesting to see how they deal with Newton Longville and Woburn Sands in particular. Dave

The 06.20 from Rugby is the 06.41 from Northampton arriving at Euston at 07.31. It'll cost you £32.50 single, which is the same as LM..... Dave