4630

They're not the last blast furnaces functioning as Scunthorpe still, for now, have theirs although closure of those was announced too last November. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67329074

It's my understanding that the paths are generally retained throughout the year in both the 'summer' and 'winter' working timetables. This allows Network Rail the flexibility to continue to run them, as required, beyond the nominal end of the RHTT season. For example, the timetable for my local station at Huddersfield has them currently listed as 'Q' paths (ie runs if required). Here's todays. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:HUD/2024-01-19/0001-0405?stp=WVS&show=freight&order=wtt

I guess from a modelling point of view the question is how far from the third rail? As I'm sure you know, in real life the 74s regularly went off the juice with boat trains to Southampton East and West Docks and also over the West London line and on to the Western Region with coal trains to Acton Yard. Perhaps Southampton Docks isn't that far away from the third rail, but the diagram to Acton Yard was a bit more of a challenge trek for them. There's photo evidence of them occasionally running west of the then limit of the third rail at Branksome, on parcels workings as far as Weymouth. And rail tours taking them to Blandford, Chandlers Ford and Romsey. The market for a 4mm version of them is no doubt small and the corporate blue only livery, perhaps supplemented with a weathered option as they were rarely clean for long, is definitely a limiting factor. But I can still dream.

A Northern class 156 grinds up the 1 in 50 away from Bradford Interchange towards Mill Lane Junction on 28th March 2019.

It's with challenges like this that RMweb could do with a 'Good Luck' button! In its absence though I've fallen back with 'Friendly/supportive'. Based on your inspirational work so far though, if anybody can pull it off you can. And no doubt at a pace that would put most of us to shame. Good luck.

A blast from the past - On 11th June 2016, Northern 144023 leans into the curve at Kirkstall Forge, on the Aire Valley line between Leeds and Skipton, with a service from Heysham Harbour.

I'm sure it's not a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'; It just hasn't reached the top of the list yet of rolling stock that needs some tlc... Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Class 108 DMC(L) M51565 stored at Haworth Shed on 23rd June 2023.

You may have used something like PhotoMechanic. https://home.camerabits.com/ It’s been around for a few years. It’s not free though and is shortly to become subscription software I understand.

I gather that the Steelers - Bills game scheduled for tomorrow (1PM ET and originally to be the evening wild card game live on Sky in the UK) has been postponed until Monday due to ‘inclement weather in the Buffalo area’. That must be a pretty rare event. Virtually nothing bar lightening around open air stadia normally postpones or delays an NFL game.

I share your pain. Not another one. 🙄

Browns playoff history here if you’re interested. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/playoffs.htm

I know that Dallas are 8-0 playing at home this year in the regular season, but I wouldn’t give Mike McCarthy much chance of surviving the disappointment from Jerry Jones in the event that they succumb to the Packers on Sunday. Unlikely I know based on the stats and the combination of Prescott and Lamb, but you never know.

Some significant HC vacancies already announced this week, with both the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots parting company with Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick respectively. Pete Carroll is remaining at the Seahawks as an ‘Advisor’. The ‘Pats have already appointed Jerod Mayo as their new HC, an internal appointment.

A nice little bit of social history there.

GBRf 69008 passing through Deighton on 9th January 2024 with 0Z08, Doncaster Down Decoy to Crewe Basford Hall. I'm presuming that this is part of a driver training/route refreshing trip as the 69 should later today, if they all run, be working; 0Z09 Crewe Basford Hall to Huddersfield 0Z10 Huddersfield to Crewe Basford Hall 0Z11 Crewe Basford Hall to Doncaster Down Decoy The four workings are currently in the schedule also for Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th.

It certainly looks the part. The only thing that that photo lacks is the inevitable large plume of diesel emissions (clag) from the lorry as the driver puts his foot down.

Speaking as someone who many years ago had the benefit of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) I can certainly attest to the benefits outlined by @iL Dottore above. I know it’ll sound very trite, but for me it really did change my life. For one thing, I’m still here. That might not necessarily have been the case otherwise. It’s easy to casually dismiss CBT as just ‘talking with someone about your problems’. But that completely misses the point. For me it was about learning and understanding why my mind led me to process information in a particular way and the negative behaviour outcomes that were being generated. The impact of recounting particular episodes in my past and my upbringing that had been potential contributory factors was significant. I was fortunate that my GP practice In Huddersfield was for the time, as I’m talking almost 30 years ago, pretty progressive in the range of services that were offered directly from the premises. So although it wasn’t provided by the NHS, it was delivered privately at the practice. As you’d expect, as private treatment it wasn’t cheap and my sessions lasted over several months. I was fortunate that I was in a well paid job at the time although my employer's private health care scheme didn’t cover this type of treatment. But it’s been one of the best long term investments I’ve made. Do I still get times when I feel ‘down’? Sure. Everyone does. But I deal with them a whole lot differently now.

It probably isn’t too surprising. When Mark 5A sets have had regular periods of storage in the past at Gascoigne Wood Sidings it has generally been with a coupled TPE Class 68. I imagine this is so that the various onboard systems on both the loco and the Mark 5A sets can be regularly started up to try to keep deterioration at bay. The class 68s and Mark 5A sets remain on lease with TPE until later this year - May I seem to recall - so it’ll be in their interest to keep them in good order prior to handing back. Arguably, they will be more secure at Long Marston and I guess any interested parties can more easily ‘kick the tyres’ there than at Longsight.

For those interested, it's been reported elsewhere that a consist apparently comprising of 68032 Destroyer, Mark5 A set TP03, with 37601 Perseus providing the traction is working today as 5Q94, Longsight TMD to Long Marston. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03416/2024-01-04/detailed

On a grey and misty December morning - the last one of 2023 - a Northern class 158 heads east along the Calder Valley towards Bradley Wood Junction with a service from Leeds to Huddersfield via Bradford Interchange.

Thanks very much for the ‘Heads Up’, Graham. Vote duly cast.

In steady rain on 30th December 2023, GBRf 66785 'John Ellis' waits to leave an engineers' possession with 6G80, Bradley Junction to Crewe Basford Hall. Shortly after sunrise on 31st December 2023, Freightliner 66547 approaching Brighouse with 6Y30, Bradley Wood Junction to Carlisle New Yard... ...followed a short time later by GBRf 66784 'Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 50th Anniversary 1968-2018' working 6G83, Bradley Wood Junction to Carlisle New Yard. These three workings, together with three others, were in connection with Transpennine Route Upgrade work taking place around Mirfield between 29th December 2023 and 2nd January 2024.

TransPennine Express 802216 speeds through Mirfield on 29th December 2023 with 1P19, Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle. On the same date, in rare sunshine as that's been in short supply these past days, 802213 heads west approaching Mirfield with 9M28, Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street. Evidence of engineering work all around, both heavy plant and materials, as the three lines here are scheduled to be closed from approximately 23.00 tonight until around 05.00 on 2nd January 2024.

Northern 158903 approaching Mirfield on 29th December 2023 with 2I12 from Leeds to Wigan Wallgate... ...as a minute later 158755 departs from Mirfield with 2I07, Wigan Wallgate to Leeds. Evidence of engineering work all around, both heavy plant and materials, as the three lines here are scheduled to be closed from approximately 23.00 tonight until around 05.00 on 2nd January 2024.

Robel Mobile Maintenance Train comprising DR97807/607/507 heading west approaching Brighouse on 27th December 2023, working as 6U87, Wakefield Kirkgate S&TE to Wakefield Kirkgate S&TE, via the Calder Valley line with a reversal at Greetland Junction.