Gary H

I was err, just wondering like.

yes, ive also noticed this over the last few weeks. I would wager its because of the longer than normal TC blocks that are in use. It'l probably work a lot better once normal signalling over the route comes into operation.

Not counting on track machines, how many freight drivers do Colas have now Jim?

Could have been the side tippers that were trapped in Hackney for the last 8 weeks then.

Which can be roughly summed up in one word---- Junk.

Indeed Mike. There's a lot more skill involved going down than up! Slack run in (derailment risk) and then slack run out which can break the train in two. Both will get your back side fired out the door on many if not all of the class 1 roads in the U.S. They call it bad train handling. Anyway, ive derailed the thread topic slightly. Soz lads & lasses.

Its surprising just how much North American engineers (drivers) have to rely on dynamic brakes. Some of their grades are so many miles long and so severe that dynamics are an absolute must to get down the hill in one piece.. They will add many locomotives with dynamic brakes to descend a grade as they will to ascend it! Puts on a whole new perspective of train handling skill. With many of these long 10'000 ton plus freights, if you relied on just air alone you would probably become a runaway very quickly as you you'd either run out of air or burn out all the brake shoes! Wouldn't be the first time that's happened either. (Cajon Pass wreck 1989)

Indeed. She runs down to Plymouth every other Friday! Get's maintenance out the cabin and gives them something to do.

I dare say we (NR) get a better deal from Colas than we do from grabby DBS. That's why they keep losing work to the smaller FOC's.

Sorry fella, I forgot! Your SWT arnt you? For a daft moment I thought you were Exeter train crew. My mistake.

All light loco's are restricted to 75 mph Edwin. Unless you work for DCR ofcourse and then you just do what ya like and to hell with the rule book.

I know how you feel. There are always members of society that feel the world should revolve around them. The Exeter drivers are well used to that kind of thing around Exeter. Royal Oak of this parish is an Exeter driver and I don't doubt he'd say the same, straight over the head! If I remember right, Topsham is equipped with CCTV?

Oh yeah! Im really looking forward to that!

Its times like this that make me proud to be British. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26880759 And to all the doubters on Youtube etc, (there were a few) "Howdya like those apples?" HA!

Im pretty sure the coast path is still shut at the moment Rod.

Aye, and he's off up the wooden hill aswel now! Night all.

Oh B****r I cant get the webcam to work now either, I reckon we've overloaded their server! Ideal, got it back again!

Its still ballasted in the conventional way, nothing different is done. Bottom ballast, track in, top ballast, tamped, brushed (regulated, tidied up) and glued. Folk may have noticed that the fibre glass boards that were in the track during and after the storms are no longer there. These were all taken to Newton Abbot yard and may end up being used in Penzance but at the moment that's a big 'maybe'.

Its still on my end. That personnel carrier and 2 road railer's just went by again in the Warren direction, one with what I think was a large compressor.

The gluing works well but its expensive. To glue 30 chain at Dawlish cost £275'000, or £2000 a drum. Im in the wrong job.

Im wondering where this was off to? Track circuit proving run to NA perhaps?

Thanks for the first paragraph! As regards to gluing the ballast, there are still enough voids between each piece to allow water to run through and drain away normally. Apart from looking like its wet when it isn't and the fact its practically solid, it hasn't really changed its drainage capabilities. The packing points, ie, 18 inches each side of the rail are not actually glued, just the 6 foot and shoulders! Oh.... and a little bit of the 4 foot too.

Reference the Real time trains page, what I don't understand is, if the top two are greyed out but running, are the other greyed out ones running aswel? Indeed, what does it mean if entries for trains are greyed out / less opaque? Thanks Martyn.

Well I gota say Mick, it was a nice change from the normal and dull 66 but a thousand wild horses wont drag me away from the symphony of sound of a 4 pack SD40-2 consist in run 8. One thing about the 70's, they don't sound anything like any other GE locomotive! Obviously due to the unique power unit in 'em I guess.

Spent a good 15 minutes having a natter with Garnitechops Aka Don this afternoon before loading and generally tidying up down Marine Parade. Very nice to meet you Don!