Christopher125

That's true, but last I heard following work to the OLE they will very soon (if not already) be operating up to 125mph between Paddington and Airport Jcn. Likewise upgrading the OLE south of Bedford remains in the latest Enhancements Delivery Plan )pg32), to allow for bi-modes: "To provide speed capability to the OLE system between London St Pancras to Bedford South Junction, to allow electric rolling stock to operate at the published permanent speed restriction" I think there was talk of converting some of the headspans to portals, as has recently taken place at Connington: https://twitter.com/networkrail/status/946395340940308480

Apologies if I've misunderstood, but the HEx 387s come from the existing fleet of 45. It's one of various electrification schemes, such as Oxford and the Thames Valley branches, deferred to CP6 and awaiting a decision on their future.

IIRC 'gap fillers' will be fitted to the new Stadler fleets for Greater Anglia and Merseyrail. I think the 'humps' had to wait until the core was exclusively worked by 700s.

I was under the impression that powered and non-powered trailers were specifically designed to share a common bodyshell, so I'd be surprised if that was true.

ATO covers the junction where the London Bridge and Elephant & Castle routes diverge south of Blackfriars, and where the Kentish Town and Finsbury Park routes diverge north of St Pancas International - there's a map of the area covered in this Rail Engineer article.

19 769s apparently - they'll take over from most of the Turbos in the Thames Valley, including North Downs services to Gatwick which should prove a good test of their 'tri-mode' ability using the 3rd rail.

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Good news from Roger Ford's 'Informed Sources' preview

I wouldn't read anything into it, the 345s were specified to have metro-like acceleration - the 7-car sets working out of Liverpool St can really shift when they need to.

Can't think of one that's been rebuilt twice, but they have had to come back and increase parapet heights.

Heathrow Express is not being subsumed into Crossrail.

Alas no, anyone have a subscription to Broadcast? Indeed, more info on the NYMR website here: All Aboard the Yorkshire Express

You wait ages for one... Broadcast C5 steams ahead with model railway series - Knickbockerglory wins order for competition show

Interview with two of the female participants: http://qeprize.org/createthefuture/wont-believe-last-summer/

Back in 2001 consultants produced a report for the Council about the Island's Railways - available here - which identified a route much nearer the river, terminating at the Harbour. This and other issues discusses at the recent meeting in Shanklin can be found in the presentation below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kilfcampaign/1899887856993331/

IIRC the A1 Trust's Rob Morland is confident that there are no fundamental obstacles for steam if they have sufficient power and room, their Autumn 2015 newsletter "confirmed that Interfleet Technology had approved our scheme for fitting ERTMS signalling equipment with an application date now fixed for 2019" As for freight, ETCS is already used by freight trains on various lines in Europe and beyond - the Betuweroute and new Gotthard Tunnel being obvious examples. What's proposed (and already in wide use) is ETCS Level 2 which still involves blocks with axle counters or track circuits, but without the constraints of lineside signals. While Level 3 has yet to be developed, it would also do away with track-based train detection - this presents obvious difficulties for freight trains and confirming their integrity. However there is a hybrid solution under consideration, as described in the article below - this would retain blocks with track-circuits or axle-counters, but with ‘virtual blocks’ within them. The Rail Engineer: ERTMS Level 3 - A possible way forward

I'm surprised no one has mentioned weight - IIRC the difference between tilting and non-tilting Voyagers is around 10 tons per vehicle. As tilt would have little benefit on the core ECML and GWML routes the extra weight, complexity and cost of a tilting bi-mode design would not have been justified.

More like the previous Mayor's vanity, Boris came up with the idea (first suggesting it in 2013) and IIRC insisted on it - rather late in the day as Crossrail had appeared (covered up) on signage at Tottenham Court Road. But is it Crossrail? by Sheep"R"Us, on Flickr

Interview with Dick Strawbridge: http://www.bradfordzone.co.uk/the-biggest-little-railway-in-the-world-interview-with-dick-strawbridge/

Almost, but with one notable exception. When the LSWR purchased Newington to work the Lyme Regis branch they replaced her air brakes with vacuum - when sold to the Freshwater, Yarmouth and Newport these were retained, and she didn't revert to air until grouping. She is of course still with us, as W8 Freshwater - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LB%26SCR_A1X_Class_W8_Freshwater

Isn't that necessary to free up the land at Old Oak Common for HS2?

Work expected to start in 2019, though some trackbed clearance has already taken place. The 11.2km line will branch off Midland Metro’s existing Birmingham - Wolverhampton line at Wednesbury, serving Great Bridge, Horseley Heath, Dudley Port, Dudley town centre, and Merry Hill shopping centre. Much of the route will use the alignment of a disused freight line. Construction is due to begin in 2019 and the line will open in 2023. Services will operate at six-minute headways during the peak and every 10 minutes at other times with a journey time of 24 minutes between Wednesbury and the terminus at Brierley Hill Town Centre. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/light-rail/british-government-to-fund-midland-metro-extension.html

Can they be seen on google maps?

800002 using the wires at Reading (credit to Dan Warman for this) - looking good for January?

Courtesy of Nighshiftworker: Murder on the Orient Express DBC style by NIGHTSHIFTWORKER, on Flickr Murder on the Krupps Express by NIGHTSHIFTWORKER, on Flickr