4630

It’s getting to be a bit of a soap opera now. 
 

BBC - Helmut Marko at risk of suspension

3 hours ago, jbqfc said:

boy of 11 arrested on the A1 in a BMW towing a stolen caravan 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-68513071

 

John 

1 hour ago, johnofwessex said:

 

I hope that Social Services have been round to protect other children in the household

17 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

They were in the caravan!

 

Mike.

I would suggest that the stolen caravan and its possible intended future use is the significant factor in this particular incident.

8 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

There was a brilliant article in the New Scientist years ago, describing what would happen to a major city if people abandoned it overnight, after a week, a few months, a year, 10 years, 50 years etc. 

Leaving aside the aftermath of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl on the local population, the abandoned town there and also the nearby city of Pripyat also provides a living example of what happens when nature takes back over.

I'd like to think that Red Bull's HR team and legal advisers have had some involvement with this decision.

From my HR notes;

When an employee does something which potentially constitutes misconduct, the common reaction is to suspend employees on full pay, pending any investigation and possible disciplinary hearing.

However, a recent case (2017) calls this approach into question;

Typically, employee suspension has been widely regarded as a ‘neutral act’, meaning it causes no detriment to the employee. The perception is that the employee’s absence allows any investigation to be conducted fairly. However, in the recent case of Agoreyo v. London Borough of Lambeth 2017, doubt has been cast on this.

The High Court stated that, contrary to popular belief, employee suspension is not a ‘neutral act’, particularly when it concerns qualified professionals as it automatically brings into question their competence.

The Court went on to stated that the suspension had been the employer’s “default position” and that it had been a “knee-jerk reaction” which had been sufficient to breach the implied term relating to trust and confidence.

The High Court held that the employer’s decision to suspend Ms Agoreyo amounted to a repudiatory breach of her contract, and that her resignation amounted to a constructive dismissal.

In light of this finding, employers need to ensure that any employee suspension is always justified. It should not be a routine response to an act of misconduct that requires investigation.

This case highlights the importance of giving due consideration to the question of whether to suspend an employee when allegations of misconduct are raised. If the decision is taken to suspend, employers need to ensure they have acted reasonably and have a clear explanation as to why this course of action has been taken.

A closure of the Huddersfield line over the weekend of 2nd-3rd March 2023 for Transpennine Route Upgrade work resulted in a few engineers' trains - all GBRf operated.

On 3rd March, 66767 'King's Cross PSB 1971-2021' taking the line towards Healey Mills and Wakefield Kirkgate at Thornhill LNW Junction with 6G83, Heaton Lodge East Junction to Doncaster Up Decoy Yard.

In the area under engineers' possession at Colne Bridge, 66307 'Ipswich Town' idles away with what will be 6G84, Heaton Lodge East Junction to Doncaster Up Decoy Yard...

...with in the distance another engineers working...

66307 slowly moves to exit the worksite towards Heaton Lodge East Junction...

...allowing the other engineers' train headed by 66708 ‘Слава Україні Glory to Ukraine’ to slowly edge forward...

...coming to a stand to receive further instructions.  It will later depart the worksite as 6G85, Heaton Lodge East Junction to Doncaster Up Decoy Yard.

A pair of Ardwick's finest speed round the curve from Dewsbury, approaching Ravensthorpe on 3rd March 2024.

<wish_list> Oh how I'd like a class 185 to be available from one of our esteemed RTR manufacturers </wish_list> 

1 minute ago, Andrew P said:

Seems like MORE corruption now than in the Ecclesbum era. 🤣

I was just typing the same.  Just to think that not long ago we thought things were bad in the F1 world under the influence of Bernie E and Max M.

Just to echo the comment from @franciswilliamwebb above, I've just bought a copy and from a quick scan through - I'll read it in detail when I've more time later - it looks really good and well worth £5 as a taster.

Certainly bodes well if future issues live up to the promise of the preview edition.

Russ

1 minute ago, Robert Shrives said:

The last pic does say a lot about the railways view of road vehicle operatives ( driver might be a bit strong!) with end to end double barrier protection... a small wonder costs off the top end of the sensible.

 

To add a bit of background in case you’re unfamiliar with this part of West Yorkshire, the trackside location here is currently receiving a lot of work in connection with the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

It’s not just the occasional Network Rail and its contractors vans that have been accessing the area.  There’s a fair amount of heavy plant too.  So it’s probably not surprising that, hopefully, more robust barriers are in place for now.

It's no consolation I know for those caught up in the aftermath, but it's fortunate for all those onboard 2L10 that it was only one bogie and not something more severe.

No doubt questions will be asked and 'lessons learned' again.

A TransPennine Express Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street service ambles along towards Huddersfield at Colne Bridge on 4th March 2024.  The 802/2 was following a late running Hull to Manchester Piccadilly service which, since the last timetable change, also doubles as the stopping service between Leeds and Huddersfield. 

Another week and another GBRf 69 working 0Z08, 0Z09, 0Z10 driver training/route training trips in West Yorkshire.

On 4th March 2024 69007 'Richard Trevithick' heads east at Colne Bridge with 0Z10, Marsden to Wakefield Kirkgate Whithams Cobra Sidings.

10 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

 

Not sure the son is like the father given some of the allegations against the senior Verstappen (and Verstappen Snr's father too).

You might need to elaborate on that as those allegations have passed me by.

11 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

I’m led to believe verstappen senior is a nasty piece of work 

Like father, like son. 
 

Although to give him some credit, Max is the more successful driver by some margin. 

7 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Red Bull will 'explode' if Horner stays: Max Verstappen's father.

 

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/39644496/red-bull-explode-horner-stays-max-verstappen-father

Also now on the BBC, now that Verstappen senior has also given an interview to De Telegraaf newspaper (Dutch)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68461379

I wonder what the odds are on CH going before next weekends Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia?

15 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Too many trying to manipulate others. 

That’s the rub isn’t it.
 

With some not motivated enough to try to think for themselves .  Too busy lapping up whatever bile the algorithm that YouTube/X (nee Twitter)/Facebook*, delete as appropriate, so willingly and generously churns out.  
 

I know there isn’t a ‘golden age’ some 50-60 years ago of peace and tolerance, but God**, humanity could and should be a whole lot better than it currently seems to be.

* declaring an interest, number 1 son works for Meta, Facebook’s parent company and he’s not happy with how the company is focussed. 

** whichever one you adopt or don’t, as the case may be.

43 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

Seriously though, if I wanted sound on my railway, it would come from a speaker under the layout, not on the trains.  When you observe the real railway, you get the doppler effect as a train goes past; if the noise comes from the model locomotive you don't get that.  The sound needs to be of the location - so all the background noises as well - not the train.

Agree 100%.  I just don’t find models fitted with sound - be it steam, diesel or electric locomotives - sufficiently convincing.

In some cases I find it just distracts too much from the overall scene that a modeller has tried so hard to create.

But a separate sound system as part of the layout, as you describe, is to my mind a far more realistic option. 

1 hour ago, Gedward said:

 

What if...

Mercedes are back at the top this year and Lewis wins his 8th title. Whereas Ferrari are fighting for scraps. Does Lewis still want to/have to move to Ferrari? Is the ink dry on his new contract? 😀

 

You'd like to think that Lewis's professional advisers will have ensured that there is sufficient flexibility in the contract to give him a watertight, low-cost, exit clause if absolutely necessary.

On the other hand, Lewis might consider that once he's achieved the record 8th title he can then, not exactly race for fun, but achieve another personal goal - driving for the 'red' team.

Either way, I wish him the best for the 2024 season.

17 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

I suppose no-one knows what the 70 in the down yard near the Colas Shed was, or the 70 sandwiched between 66846 and 70805 in the up Colas sdgs were yesterday afternoon?

According to a TOPS list from yesterday timed at 10.55 @Peter Kazmierczak, 70803, 70805 & 70814 were present at Westbury if that's of any help.

4 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

To get to Skipton, freight from the South will have to go through Leeds station area, probably even harder to negotiate and schedule than through Manchester.

Indeed.  Access onto the single line at Engine Shed Junction at Holbeck…leading to Whitehall curve…and for freight heading north, across the Up and Down Huddersfield and Up and Down Doncaster at Whitehall Junction, which is part of the approach to Leeds station for other services arriving from the south and west.

Problematic - paths for scheduled freight do exist using this route - but not conducive to maintaining good time keeping on the other major routes in and out of Leeds 

I really can sympathise with your circumstances and experience with this particular outfit @Canal Digger
 

They are one of the very few ‘retailers’ (and I use that word with caution for them) that after several less than happy purchases I no longer use.  And I’ve made a point of recommending all my family and friends that they do like wise.
 

Price doesn’t come into it.  

Good luck in resolving your current issue to your satisfaction.  

Another third rail photo opportunity for those who may be interested on 4th March 2024.

South Western Railway has reliveried 455868 into blue grey - probably into as close to original as current rules allow.  

This image from Facebook is doing the rounds;

455868

The unit is scheduled to run the following on 4th March 2024;

5Z67 Bournemouth T&RSMD to Bournemouth

5Z68 Bournemouth to Eastleigh

2Z68 Eastleigh to London Waterloo - Staff special

5Y52 London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings

GBRf 66730 'Whitemoor' stationary at the head of 6G88 during an engineers' possession between Huddersfield and Bradley Junction on 24th February 2024...

...with, according to Realtime Trains, 66705 'Golden Jubilee' on the rear.

I don’t have the dimensions, but here’s a photo of one of them that I took a couple of months ago if that helps.

 DR97807 6U87 Brighouse 27122023

There’s a write up of the plans in the March 2024 issue of Modern Railways (page 87)  if you have access to a copy Jamie.  There’s also an accompanying photo of the site with some clearance work being evident.

There will be a partial closure during 2026, due to TransPennine Route Upgrade work on the adjacent lines, at Neville Hill limiting access there.

The suggestion is that the new site at Shipley may be retained in the longer term ‘to improve depot capacity in the region’.  That certainly makes sense as, in addition to the existing stabling sidings at Skipton, it would make the Aire Valley routes largely self contained.