APOLLO
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Posts posted by APOLLO
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Make the video please.
Lots of DCC info around, but very little DC these days.
Brit15
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Pothole on sloper road ?
There's a website about that !!
https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/969589
Brit15
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Commuting in/out of London is something you can either take or you can't. I'd rather not commute, but I really don't mind it and the work/life balance of living in Milton Keynes and working in London is one I'm happy with. I'm from oop North myself, that big North of Lancashire, and people from back home think I'm a lunatic for living and working down here but I like it. However I can see why others wouldn't. I love London, it's a great walking city and I just take it for granted that I walk through Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, down the Mall, Whitehall, past St. Pauls, past Parliament, Tower Bridge etc so frequently.
I have always liked visiting London, especially the early 70's visiting the sheds at Finsbury Park etc (photos on my sites below). It's a fantastic city for it's history, museums culture etc. My sister lived in Twickenham back then, and was a base for my many weekend visits, all by train. Euston was new and fantastic, and we got electric trains direct to there back in 1973/74. Of course things have changed. but it's the rate of change that hits me these days, and down in London that rate seems frenetic.
I couldn't live there, or indeed in any city. I did commute to college back in those days, Wigan to Liverpool (2 car DMU always packed, 10 intermediate stops) then to Manchester (6 car express DMU non stop to Salford / Man Vic) . I mention these as the Liverpool commute was an absolute pain, the Southport - Wigan - Salford - Manchester 6 car DMU express a pleasure. A lot does depend on the quality of your commute.
I like to take a walk from home to Haigh Hall, our local country park. On a nice clear day you can see the Peak District hills, North Wales and just about make out the Lake District mountains. Pendle Hill and the West Pennine moors are quite nearby also - all are within an hour or so's drive away. Another reason for me to avoid the crowded London and the S.E.
Brit15
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The scrum at Euston is quite funny to watch (but also quite frightening).
Last year we were waiting on that god dam awful concourse for the 21-10 home to Wigan (humming the ELO tune "Last train to Wigan" !!) a LM service to Milton Keynes was duly announced - the platform that is, and the rush / scrum was unbelievable to behold, one wag shouting aloud and laughing "don't panic, don't panic" Dad's army style !!
Our train was duly announced around 21-00, then a leisurely walk down to coach B at the front, with no rush as we and most others had reserved seats. This is as it should be.
Great to get out of at 100 mph is London for me these days. It's a good place for a day out - but seems to be getting to be a hell hole for the average commuter there. The stress, pollution, job worry, housing, crime etc etc just can't be good for anyone, and it seems to ramp up year and year.
I remember Bernard manning, the Manchester comedian once saying - "If you like a smoke, have a smoke. If you like a drink, have a drink. If you like chips, eat chips," don't take these doctors on - they'll have you in bed by nine o clock if you do !!
Brit15
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Not forgetting the late Frank Dyer of Borchester fame - the man who made OO work.
Brit15
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Carfloats - Spend a few hours on this superb site
http://www.trainweb.org/bedt/IndustrialLocos.html
Also some interesting youtube vids on the modern Chicago industrial switching scene - would make a nice modern layout.
Lots more on chicagojoe28's site
https://www.youtube.com/user/Chicagojoe28/videos
Brit15
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I'll nominate the late David Jenkinson for his Settle - Carlisle enthusiasm, books, articles & layouts.
Most others who perhaps deserve have been mentioned.
Brit15
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Bob I was in Lidl yesterday (Wigan gas works branch !!) I bought a couple of colourful and nicely made "hanging bird feeders" which look like decent buildings for an outside model railway. I bought a couple (on offer at £6.99 each). Removed the hanger & they look OK
Brit15
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A "Nodding Donkey" (Pacer) engine fell onto the track at Liverpool some years ago. Lots of damage, thankfully no one seriously hurt.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/safety-check-call-after-trains-3448567
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-city-line-trains-putting-3440891
The RAIB has refused to carry out a full investigation because it does not believe any “further significant lessons” could be learned.
Brit15
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This would go well playing full blast over a 1960's grotty northern steam layout !!
Brit15
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Looking good - what did you use to strip the old paint ?, seems to have worked well.
Brit15
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LMS 2968 wrote
There are actually three parts there: the lower end of the combination lever, broken off at the top below the valve spindle; part of the crosshead drop arm; and the union link between them. The two pins at the ends of the union link are intact with nuts still fastened. I'll agree that the top end of what was the combination lever appears to have been blued by a prolonged heating.Trying to identify this from Google Images, I can't find any diagrams / photos of Tornado's inside valve gear (from where the above part reportedly fell off)
I have found these diagram / photo of the outside valve gear showing a similar part - the Union Link / Combination Lever. (shown disconnected & hanging down in the photo).
Is this correct, does the inside motion of Tornado have similar mechanicals ?. The workings / arrangements of inside motion are a mystery to me.
Brit15
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As to old locomotives on our main lines a pair of fifty year old class 50's ran from Birmingham to Carlisle and back yesterday, 2 minutes early on the return run passing Boars Head Wigan. The train looked quite grand in BR Blue / Grey.
I'm sure the Tornado incident will be quite thoroughly investigated and subsequent repairs duly made. She will be back on the main line (I hope) soon. Perhaps 75 MPH is fast enough. What speed are preserved diesels (as above) allowed to run at ?
Brit15
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This is interesting
Haunting music.
Brit15
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West coast "Deltics"
Double headed D400'ers passing my house ten minutes ago, southbound at Rylands Sidings Wigan. Crap place for photography these days, but sun was out (just). and I pressed the shutter a little late. Heard them thundering up the bank this morning, they were slowing for the Wigan stop here.
Brought back memories of the late 60's / early 70's.
Brit15
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In Liverpool not many "worked for cunard" !!
Brit15
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Brit15
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Dougie.
That video has already been posted here, back on 18th January (page 118, post 2932).
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YUP - but the train has only today arrived in Paddington !!!!!!!!
Brit15
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They also link axle counters to defect detectors in the USA.
And how they work
Anything similar in the UK ?.
Brit15
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Deltic or A4 - which is the most exciting ? Both at Grantham
Brit15
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When they said he had Piles, I thought they meant Dollars ----- !!
Brit15
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Brit15
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If the out and back were printed on one ticket then some would use it as a season ticket instead of the return it is meant to be, that is one of the reasons why it is printed as two separate bits with the out being invalid without the return also being present.
That's probably why I gave the surly inspector the lot - he can sort out whats valid or not. (I've never been asked to show my return ticket when asked for tickets on any outbound journey either).
Coming home the inspector was very different, helping people, pleasant manner etc etc. Good uns 'n bad uns in any job I suppose. (I find 90 odd % of rail staff OK by the way)
Brit15
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Hornby to end the Thomas the Tank Engine range
in Hornby
Posted
Brit15