APOLLO

7 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Indeed that is how the 1960s phase of WCML electrification was done. First from Manchester/Liverpool to Crewe, then progressively southwards to Euston. With the Birmingham/Stoke loops a year later.

Wot start in the NORTH ?

The Clog and Shawl wearers 'up there  will want glass in their windows and electricity next !!

Brit15

Burning track point heaters - A few flashing LEDs would suffice !!

Brit15

Brit15

11 hours ago, phil-b259 said:

As such just because the current Government has scraped the plans for further phases of HS2 that does not mean the bit of HS2 they are building (phase 1) is in itself flawed - it has the potential to act as a springboard from which further phases can emerge in future years if a fresh bunch of politicians decide to do something different. This is particularly true given the hardest bit to do with respect of UK based high speed rail is the initial section out of London

I agree this is how it should have been done, one leg at a time as and when we can afford it

Unfortunately there is talk of selling land bought for the Manchester leg (Golborne link East leg / Leeds also ?).

If THAT happens then that's it, London to Birmingham only. We'll be lucky to get Euston & the connection to the WCML just north of Birmingham also.

I'm getting thoroughly fed up of all this London Centric thinking / spending, whilst we up here are actually now starting to suffer (service cutbacks as stated above, investment cuts, train strikes, abysmal service you name it).

Covid / work from home etc altered everything, in some cases permanently. But we still need the rail (etc) investment if these 2030,35,50 etc (so called) green policies etc are to be enacted over the coming years.

Our Gov are just NOT INTERESTED anymore, in anyone or anything except the next vote / 5 years. The lot of them.

Brit15

Story here also, mentions The Times investigations etc. (The Times article is behind a paywall). Very disturbing.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12658633/HS2-bosses-covered-ballooning-costs-high-speed-rail-line-telling-staff-lie-bid-billions-flowing-project-Probe-launched-allegations.html

Is it ime to halt construction / spending and put it into deep freeze untill we can actually afford it ?

Brit15

Brit15

I was a strong supporter of HS2 up to recently. I'm not so sure of it now.

I can't really see the point in it now given the above stated cuts to existing services. The standees crushed on TP Expresses between Manchester & Leeds, Manchester and London will not be pleased at knowing HS2 is being funded by cuts to THEIR services.

This Government either does not give a damn, are being told what to do by "higher" powers, or just plain stupid. Perhaps a mix of all three.

Brit15

Other news today, so much for The Northern Powerhouse - What a farce.

TransPennine Express to cut 20 services a day between Leeds and Manchester

Passengers warned of fewer services and more crowded trains as rail firm seeks to ‘reset’ its operations

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/19/transpennine-express-cut-services-leeds-manchester-trains-rail

Wanna play " Bingo" ? - Read this !!

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/-/media/PDFs/TransPennine-Express-Our-Plan-For-the-Future.pdf

Avanti West Coast to cut number of services in December

Andy Burnham says news is a ‘kick in the teeth’ when rail operator has just won nine-year contract

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/20/avanti-west-coast-cut-services-december-rail-train

Our railways are becoming a sick joke.

Brit15

Just found this layout - and a very interesting one it is too.

I'll visit your site and take a look.

Brit15

Hymek & Gronk at Radstock

Radstock North (S & D) station, 29/12/67. Shunter D3185 waits for the crossing gates to be opened so that it can use the new spur onto North Somerset Line with coal from Writhlington Colliery, Hymek D7031 waits in the platform to head down to the site of the track lifting on the former S & D route, 29/12/67. 

Brit15

I've modelled in N American 2 rail O gauge since 1982. Atlas (old and new), Rivarossi, Weaver and a few other makes, all run on Peco O track and most have kadee couplers. No problems (or well, just occasionally !!).

I also have never fathomed 3 rail, high rail O27, O72 etc etc. More like toy trains to me, short, stubby, no detail and more than twice the price - no thanks.

You need to be particularly careful when buying, especially on ebay to ensure the item IS 2 rail, but I've had had few if any problems in this respect.

I just do not like / understand this 3 rail millarkey.

Found this very interesting video last night after getting fed up with watching the news.

Better days.

Brit15

10 minutes ago, Hobby said:

Most steering wheels are that shape now, who knew that BL were ahead of their time back in '73! ;)

BL were ahead in a few areas, Hydrogas suspension being one. I bought a new Princess 1800HL back in 1975, yes the engine was dated but the suspension, road handling and ride was superb.

I'll not knock BL, not the best, not the worst & still have a 1973 Rover V8 in my garage. 50 years old in June.

Just read this

https://oilprice.com/Metals/Commodities/EV-Battery-Costs-Could-Surge-By-22.html

Brit15

2 hours ago, Gt.Shefford said:

Am I surprised that no one could spare 30 from their argument to listen to the presentation given by Prof. Mark Blyth

 Just watched it, very interesting. Parts are a little over my head (I'm an engineer not a banker) but the European banks (etc) reminds me of the words in the title song of "The Italian Job" - This is the self wealth preservation society !!!

A great part of the worlds woes lies on the shenanigans and greed of the worlds banks (etc), especially the large international ones.

I'm glad we never joined the Euro, we certainly dodged a bullet there.

Brit15

Also in my temp folder for viewing

1 hour ago, BachelorBoy said:

But there are ends-justify-means activists out there who think that way.

Indeed there are. But how many of these very vocal activists are experienced and qualified in the fields of energy / transport / climate etc and have any real idea of the problems and solutions, thus are worth listening to ? A very small % I would say, and definitely not the orange paint brigade etc.

I have stated my experience as a qualified energy engineer at the sharp end of the gas industry. I know many of the energy problems we all face going forward. There are lots of practical and viable answers, none of which will be easy or affordable for many. Energy is life.

Leave the country folks alone, a miniscule part of the problem (like model railway exhibitions). 

Lets start by getting these two wars stopped before they escalate. A Win for everyone on this planet. Move forward from there.

Brit15

So glad I'm 71 and have seen and achieved what I have and helped to build this countries infrastructure over my lifetime.

So glad my children are dual nationals and have a sunny pleasant alternative country to live in if / when it all goes tts up here. (Though every country has problems to varying degrees)

God help us Brits in the future. The powers that be have set us against each other - that is all part of their plan.

Brit15

So cram us all into a 15 minute city .

This is the future ?

Brit15

1 minute ago, BachelorBoy said:

 

When other countries are failing to do the right thing, then championing such issues are precisely what the UK should do. 

Fine - YOU pay for it then, not me. 

Other countries are not even remotely interested in listening, such virtue signalling is a waste of time (and costly to all).

Brit15

Rural folk / lifestyle is a very, very small % of the environmental (etc) problem. Barking up the wrong tree.

I'm not a Climate Change / Global Warming denier, indeed the ever increasing millions (billions) of tons of CO2 (etc) we worldwide shove into the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial revolution certainly does no good (Though CO2 is a plant food and a %PPM in our atmosphere is necessary). I do feel the subject is way over egged, being constantly rammed down our ears at every opportunity by folk who don't know the difference between Gas and Paraffin (old gas mans saying !!). 

But we are where we are. Environment / energy is a world wide problem needing worldwide solutions, and some TRUTH telling is desperately needed, especially regarding oil and natural gas reserves and supply. We here in the UK cannot and should not Champion the world on this whilst the USA, China, India, Russia etc just do not seem to care.

The developed west is rapidly running out of sustainable & affordable energy, especially oil and gas. Just look at Germany who has shot itself in the foot energy wise (getting rid of nuclear) - but still burns large amounts of dirty coal (Lignite), we in the UK increasingly have a gun pointed at ours (especially gas). Yes renewables are a good thing, but they just don't have the clout or reliability that oil & gas does.

Real time UK electricity generation. 35% gas right now, 24% wind, 7% solar etc etc. (Varies by the minute)

https://electricinsights.co.uk/#/dashboard?&_k=xqz5bd

The blowing up of the two Nord Stream pipelines from Russia has certainly caused many problems in Europe, with many more to come as winter approaches. Similar trouble with a gas pipeline to Finland this week also. Energy is being weaponised.

I've spent 40 odd years planning / managing gas main replacement, development of the gas network etc. Our gas transmission and distribution networks have being sold off recently by the National Grid (who took over after British Gas was split up). Indeed the (once) Jewel in the crown, the National gas transmission system just being sold to overseas venture vulture capitalists of dubious intentions.

Gas (and oil) is being increasingly demonised etc by the climate change mantra, weaponised by various nations. There is NO affordable alternative to gas (especially for home heating) here in the UK. (Please don't mention heat pumps !!).

And finally I must mention the push to 15 minute cities, the World Economic Forum, ULEZ, you name it.

I'm increasingly of the thinking that the powers that be (the REAL ones with clout) full well know what is happening regarding  energy etc and are adjusting and introducing policies they deem appropriate, and brainwashing us accordingly.

Brit15 

31 minutes ago, PMP said:

Please show your Nox diffusion tubes results to back up your statement.

I would but unfortunately the old girl blew up the NOX meter !!!!!!!!!!!!

She has depleted a few oil fields in her time !!!!!

Brit15

Problem this last year or so with PT to my local airport (Manchester) is the PITA rail services. Strikes, constant train cancellations (Northern and Trans Pennine Express), so very unreliable I had to drive there & back from Wigan 4 times this year (family & friends, I've not flown since 2019). The railway infrastructure is there and is (Castlefield Corridor apart) excellent, as are our new trains and new depot nearby at Springs Branch - we just want some on time, reliable services.

Wigan has no direct Airport services anymore since last December when Northern diverted the Windemere & Barrow - Airport services (Both DMU) to run via Bolton. A letter to Andy Burnham just produced a waffle reply regarding the Castlefield Corridor congestion, err, which both above services still transit !!. NO one I know catches the train to the airport anymore, so unreliable, A change of train now needed from Wigan = a double dose of check in time anxiety !!!

When the powers that be get serious and look deeply into public transport as a viable and reliable, affordable alternative to the car then most folk will look again.

By the way, Airport parking, drop off etc is nothing to do with the environment, just a money making scam.

As to the major polluters at Airports ----

Brit15

23 minutes ago, Mark Forrest said:

Maybe true in the past and to some extent now; but in the future who knows.  Technology could offer a solution to experience other countries and cultures without the need to leave home. 

More to the point, the same could be true of model railway exhibitions.  Imagine popping on a VR headset and finding yourself standing on the platform of that layout you've always wanted to see rather than leaning on the barriers in an exhibition hall somewhere.

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world !!

Brit15

And don't forget the utter stupidity, loss of life, devastation and environmental impacts the two wars are creating.

I do hope both are quickly resolved and sanity returns. I feel so sad for the many ordinary folks suffering on all sides.

Brit15

I posted this on PMP's thread, perhaps better here.

Like many problems we have re energy, environment etc it's a matter of scale.

Compare the no of model railway exhibitions in the UK per year, with the number of visitors etc at sports events, football in particular. Matches are cross country affairs with hundreds if not thousands travelling long distances to watch away (and home) games. This happens many, many times per year, not just football either. Car parks at many stadiums are vast.

What's the carbon footprint of the UK sports scene ?

When that is addressed (and good luck with that) then look at our piddly insignificant model railway exhibitions carbon footprint.

Brit15