4630

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.

I haven’t seen a recent list on any of the usual forums, but shortly after finishing with TPE they were split between Crewe South Yard and Longsight, with one set also at Wolverton. I’m not sure if there are any left at Gascoigne Wood Sidings.

As mentioned in the article; ”But who on earth in HS2 thought it was remotely credible to do this?”

Interesting piece in the Sunday Times today about the cost implications of a variation order to the contract to build the HS2 rolling stock. The piece isn’t available to read on the website unless you’re a subscriber, so I can’t post a link. The gist of the printed article is that “…the carriages were being designed with one set of doors per side, as opposed to the conventional for inter-city carriages of two sets (one at each end), are now having to be re-designed due to concerns about the impact on dwell time at stations”.

It’s interesting isn’t it. Through usage and custom we get familiar and comfortable with something that to us feels ‘safe’. Or at least, safe enough. Then we’re introduced to a potentially ‘better way’ and in the case of platform edge doors an intrinsically safer way. You then wonder why there isn’t more of a push to introduce them subject, of course, to the necessary funding being available. Leaving funding to one side, which I know is a perennial issue, and a political one too which I’m not going to dwell on, but I’m surprised that there isn’t more of a push to fit platform edge doors on more of the central London Underground stations. Particularly on those lines where new rolling stock has been introduced in recent years and there is now an homogenous fleet, so further changes are unlikely in the short to medium term. The Victoria line is one candidate. And I’d add the Piccadilly line into the equation too once its new fleet, currently under development, has been introduced and the existing fleet all withdrawn.

By way of illustration, here's a photo of the cab of 46100 Royal Scot also showing its TOPS number 98702 in the top left corner of the photo. For anyone needing a list of the class 89 and 98 numbers, these links to the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society might help; TOPS class 89 TOPS class 98 I don't know if the lists are 100% accurate as neither list is dated, but as the publisher is the RCTS I'd be reasonably confident.

For those interested in details beyond what appears in the media, here is the Approved Judgement from the Royal Courts of Justice published earlier today. https://assets.caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/admin/2023/3338/ewhc_admin_2023_3338.pdf

Following the completion of this years schedule of Rail Head Treatment Trains, a convoy of Direct Rail Services locomotives pass through Deighton on 21st December 2023, working 0Z05 from York Thrall Europa to Crewe Coal Sidings, with 66425 Nigel J Kirchstein 1957-2021 bringing up the rear.

Following the completion of this years schedule of Rail Head Treatment Trains, a convoy of Direct Rail Services locomotives pass through Deighton on 21st December 2023, working 0Z05 from York Thrall Europa to Crewe Coal Sidings. The consist comprised; 37425 Concrete Bob, 37266 Victorious, 37716, 37419 Driver Tony Kay 1974-2019 and 66425 Nigel J Kirchstein 1957-2021.

What an interesting piece of work. Thanks for posting the link.

Interesting. I wonder if the fitting of this type of axle/wheel/bearing monitoring equipment will become more widespread (mandatory?) on freight vehicles, particularly those carrying dangerous cargo? The derailment and subsequent spillage and fire of a TEA wagon loaded with diesel fuel in the consist of 6A11, Robeston to Theale, near Llangennech on 26th August 2020 springs to mind. The immediate cause of that derailment is similar to the cement tanker derailment at Petrill Bridge.

It’s an escutcheon plate.

Through the gloom and drizzle at Deighton on 18th December 2023, Rail Operations Group 37510 'Orion' with 331107 in tow working as 5Q36, Neville Hill T&RSMD to Allerton Depot, unit transfer.