rodent279

It's an intriguing thought. Come on, someone must have tried it!

Best units ever built, and that is the best livery for them! They were also the first stock built from new with disc brakes.

Can't have been more than a year old, but looking beautifully scruffy, 56038 stands outside Cardiff Canton TMD, in August 1980. Taken with permission, on a guided tour of the depot. https://flic.kr/p/ogFjaS

I'm curious to know how km posts are laid out on LGV lines, particularly the PSE line. Are they in whole km, 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4km, or 0.1 km intervals? I ask because I've dug up some timings from 1984, of a TGV on the PSE, heading towards Paris, from km 123 to km 100, and from km 47 to 34. Some of the times are a litlle astray, leading to speeds wavering between 257km/h & 276km/h, consistently, across whole km's. Now this could be due to timing inaccuracies on my part, or maybe I was mistaking a whole km for an xx.9 or xx.1km? cheers N

Slightly OT (well I started it, so I guess it's my party! :-)), but if you go to the rather excellent National Libraries of Scotland, and bring up either SW England, OS 1:500, Towns, 1880's or SW England, OS 25 Inch, 1873-1888, they show mileposts, with the mileage, and where they are referenced from. Here's a link to a section of the SW England, OS 1:500, Towns, 1880's maps, just east of Bristol TM. What's more interesting is that in this particular series of maps, the actual broad gauge & standard gauge rails are shown. http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=20&lat=51.4518&lon=-2.5736&layers=117746211&b=1

I like it, and I don't think it's too far OT. I'm into the esoteric, niche "pifflling trivia". I like transition diesel liveries, even though I'm not old enough to remember pre-TOPS diesels. Speculating about maroon Hymeks is perfectly fine. How about an HST with power cars in BR Green, stock in carmine & cream?

D7017 confirmed visiting from the WSR.

A better view of Digby-Wyatt's trainshed is possible after the removal of the Royal Mail footbridge. Stolen from the window of a departing HST. https://flic.kr/p/X8DP8c https://flic.kr/p/W4Lv6m

Judging from the state of some mileposts on the GWML, NR clearly do not require them to be "cleaned and painted at intervals of not more than 3 years"!

Shame the guy who did the original LPG conversion isn't around anymore, we could ask the expert. Perhaps he could give the Gov't some advice...... https://goo.gl/images/KyWfc3 Oops, sorry, silly me, I forgot-we don't need experts anymore....

Either Venlo or Monchengladbach must have dual voltage capable OHL, as I remember going to Koln from Hook of Holland. We changed engines at one of the aforementioned stations, and our Dutch loco (unfortunately not an EM2 ) unhooked and disappeared, to be replaced by a DB 15kV electric.

Not in the least bit confusing at all........

You can, but storing the fuel takes up more space. I looked into LPG for my Morris Minor some years ago (laugh if you want, phillistines, it's been done), but dropped the idea when I realised I'd lose most of my boot space in exchange for an LPG tank big enough to give me a similar range as petrol.

I suppose that would have meant extending the DC to Moorgate, but that would not have been rocket surely?

Which makes one wonder why Farringdon was chosen as the AC-DC changover point? Why not somewhere like Kentish Town? Or even KX-T station? How on earth (pun not intended, but rather good actually!) did they earth the systems in continetal border railway stations, such as Venlo, Monchengladbach etc, where 2, sometimes 3 different systems would meet? Can't think where it is, but I'm sure there is one spot where 1.5kV dc, 3kV dc & 15kV AC meet. The 15kV systems of Switzerland & Austria meet the 3kV DC systems of Italy at a few points, so too do the 15kV AC systems of Germany & 3kV DC systems of Poland. They obviously have ways of making it work.

I went on an IET/IRSE Railway Electrification Systems course a few years back. There was a lengthy discussion about earthing, and an example was given of a problem with, I think, a gas main in the Manchester area, which corroded to the point of leaking gas, due to some earthing issue on the Manchester - Bury line. I think it took about 20yrs to manifest itself, so these issues are not always apparent or easily spotted.

Tell me - how does one lose a milepost? Did it get left on a train? Perhaps it's in Lost Luggage, at Victoria, waiting for it's rightful owner to collect it? (Tongue in cheek..... )

Personally, I predict that one day railways will be powered by electri......oh wait.....no, scrap that.....

Aye. Career self-serving narcissists is a bit harsh, beacause I'm sure many have their hearts in the right place. Reasoned argument based on established facts I can deal with, even when it's supporting a conflicting view to mine, but lies based on hearsay based on bullsh!t seem to have become mainstream now. (As it ever was I suppose, depending on how long you've been around.)

Thanks all. Of course, class 14's, Warships & Westerns! I should have known! Didn't know about the 73/0's & 33's though.

I've got a couple of Quails, including the Western one, and I had a suspicion that PZ would have the highest number. Yes, there are many COM (Change of Mileage) listed in it, where the mileage changes from say miles from Paddington via Swindon, to miles from Paddington via Newbury. I suspect however, that there isn't an unbroken run of mileposts consecutively numbered, all the way from Paddington to PZ. Quail will tell me, if I have a spare 1/2 hr! Piffling trivia it may be, but I find it fsacinating! Maybe it's worthwhile starting a "Piffling Trivia" thread?

Yes, there are many very clever politicians. They are very clever at passing the blame onto others, and at devising devious schemes that benefit themselves and their vested interests, while at the same time hoodwinking large sections of the voting public into thinking that they are acting in their best interests. Never a truer word was spoken.

If it's an all axle counter area, what is the problem with stray earth currents? Is it just a matter of making sure ntohing becomes live that shouldn't, or that electrolytic corrosion is minimised, or can stray earth currents still interfere with axle counters? Or do you still have a small number of track circuits?

Were class 20's the only mainline diesel locos to get carriage type BR roundels? This is 20098, in original BR green, at Toddington yesterday, paired with 20137, also in green, but with full yellow ends, and post-1957 lion & wheel. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-XYsKXYhXM-anM5SFVrRU1zZmM/view?usp=drivesdk

Another factor to consider with electric cars is how good will they be at towing? We go camping with a small trailer rammed with camping gear, and are thinking of going for a trailer tent. If you start adding trailers, caravans, boats etc, you'll drain the battery quicker. Since, love 'em or hate 'em, a lot of people tow caravans etc, if an electric car isn't suitable for towing, they're not going to buy one. Clever politicians haven't thought thought of that have they?