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APOLLO

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Posts posted by APOLLO

    Kings Cross York Road & Suburban Platforms

    in UK Prototype Questions

    Posted

    Excellent photo Chris P.

     

    That link was discussed at length in another thread, and I found an engraving of the point where the n-w curve crossed the hotel curve, on the flat, under construction, but could t find any modern pictures.

     

    I think this is the thread referred to.

     

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107070-lt-kings-cross-mystery-tunnel/

     

    What an interesting station / area kings Cross was / is.

     

    Brit15

    Why I don't Use Facebook

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    Apollo's views on technology (or sometimes known as codology)

     

    1 I worked over 40 years in gas distribution engineering. When I started my apprenticeship in 1969 the only computer I ever saw was a huge machine in HQ that did the gas bills, complete with panels of flashing lights and reel to reel recorders !! The gas industry was always at the forefront of introducing new technology, which over my many years included computers, both on the desk & embedded in the equipment we used on the job, (computer controlled large diameter plastic pipe butt welding machine etc). I've seen it all from it's inception, and been involved with the introduction and use of quite a lot of "new" technology.

     

    2. We were in the forefront of the introduction of desk computers, of which I always had some interest in. Windows 95 then 98 was a big thing for us. I got into spreadsheets and designed the costing spreadsheet for gas main diversions, won £1000 as company suggestion of the year !!!. They still use an updated version of it so I was told. I like using spreadsheets, use them for all sorts of things.

     

    2. I have a Windows 10 PC, quite like it, though I don't use Cortana or very many  "Apps".

     

    3. Though it is a wonderful thing, I don't (and never will) embrace DCC /sound on my model railways. Just not for me. I hated last Sunday farting about with the many digital clocks around the place, glad my computer did it automatically !!. I hate the 2 button does all via a menu technology - especially when you have mislaid the instructions !!

     

    4. Social media - don't touch it. Not for me. Wife & kids love it, and it is useful as we have family around the world.

     

    5. Phones - I have my son's old Razr flip phone - I love it. Also have my daughter's hand me down Sony smart phone - let's just say as it's a dam'n sight smarter than me it hardly gets used. (it's too big also). I just would never do banking via phone, though I'm OK banking online via my PC.

     

    6. Cars. I shake my head when I sit in a new car, but smile with satisfaction when I sit in my 1973 Rover P5 V8. My everyday car is a 2008 Seat Leon, and sometimes even that has me flummoxed.

     

    7.So I'm personally at a peak with technology. What I have / do is quite adequate for me. As the world races on I will be left behind, not totally behind but increasingly trailing !!, And I'm quite happy with that.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 10

    Class 800 - Updates

    in UK Prototype Discussions (not questions!)

    Posted

    I have just watched the Channel 5 Paddington documentary regarding the recent HST derailment there. A very interesting episode. When the power car was re-railed and inspected at Old Oak depot the inspector was pleased to report only paintwork scratches on the wheels, (which were to be ultrasonically tested before re-entering service). He remarked that the 40 year old HST was very well built, saying "They built things solidly and to last back then" - I smiled - to me the HST is "new technology". (apart from the disgusting non - retention Mk 3 toilets that is !!!!

     

    https://www.my5.tv/paddington-station-247/season-1/episode-7

     

    Interesting to note the southbound (downhill where I live) Caledonian sleeping car trains make a lot more "wheel / track" noise than any other trains (freight included) that pass my house. If I am awake I definitely know "thats the Calley sleeper". Probably due to there weight, they pass at a fair speed also.

     

    Brit15

    I am very cross

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    I'm afraid I disagree. The current world of instant gratification "because we expect it" also makes for exactly those tales as described by the OP: misinformation. Not deliberately, but because people simply don't know better. The instant an incident occurs, people demand to know how they can avoid it, as if it never happened. Regrettably I have experience with this behaviour, which can be on the brink, and too often over, rudeness by these people, as most all working in public transport will confirm. It's often best to take some time and investigate what's happening and then decide what scenario needs to be executed then jumping around misinforming people. :yes:

     

    Tell you a story I heard: a train gets a 'one-under' and the guard was send out to investigate. While he was walking back, he was rudely addressed by a middle-aged male passenger in suit who demanded the train should carry on. He was ignored by the guard. During the whole incident, the guard passed this bloke several times, every time being addressed by said bloke in a rude manner. Until the guard had enough, took this bloke by the arm and brought him to the scene of the accident. (mind, this is not normally done, but circumstances required a clear lesson to this bloke :rolleyes: ) Said bloke was then informed the pieces he saw scattered around used to be a person, which the driver had seen disintegrate in front of him, not even 8 ft away. He puked :rolleyes: (the bloke, not the driver btw!)  It was a very quiet suit for the rest of the journey...  Sadly, it's not an exception passengers behave rudely or selfishly inconsiderate when an accident like this occurs. Sign of the times, regrettably. :rolleyes:

     

    I disagree. this was Wigan this morning at 10.50 am. All trains were late, including Manchester airport to Edinburgh, no connection whatsoever with what was happening 150 miles up the line. Lack of information in an age of "instant" information. Trains were running late and out of path. announcements were wrong / out of sync. I.m not bothered WHY trains were late, I just want to know WHEN my train is due. WHERE the next train to arrive is going to etc. Quite simple, but all to cock this morning unfortunately. Platform staff did there best though.

     

    People have paid through there noses for tickets & travel, they at least need reliable information when things go pear shaped. Its called crisis management, use of resources and forward incident planning.

     

    Brit15.

    • Like 1

    I am very cross

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    Just back from a day out in Liverpool

     

    Trains up the creek on WCML around Wigan & Liverpool also throughout today, though the service between the two was OK. Queues miles long at Lime Street for London trains. Seemed to be conflicting info everywhere and lots of frustrated passengers.

     

    The automated announcements this morning at Wigan made no sense at all in relation to services, which were all over the place re the timetable. It's not that the platform staff don't care - they just don't know. Therefore the problem re instant information lies higher up the food chain. Inexcusable in today's world of instant communication.

     

    Brit15

    'Main line' company locos sold into industrial or light railway service

    in UK Prototype Questions

    Posted · Edited by APOLLO

    Would you believe another ex GWR pannier tank, No 1956, at Sutton Manor colliery St Helens. Built in 1888 at Wolverhampton

     

    Photo & info on this fascinating site - scroll down a bit

     

    http://www.suttonbeauty.org.uk/suttonhistory/suttonmanorcolliery2/

     

    Also at the nearby Haydock collieries was this ex London Chatam & Dover Rly 0-6-0, built in 1879, bought from the Southern Railway in 1940

     

    IMG_20171010_0027-M.jpg

     

    Interesting stuff - I might find some more !!.

     

    Brit15

    • Like 1

    Wright writes.....

    in Modelling musings & miscellany

    Posted

    Just had an "exciting" hour in the loft.

     

    Unseen, my namesake Hornby Britannia "Apollo" on a long 14 car parcels train stuttered on a dirty frog (point work not french man !!) - resulting in uncoupling of a TPO & Gresley full brake (those pesky small articulated couplings - PITA). loco & rest of train ran round layout and collided in rear of own train, causing another derailment of my 16 wagon Cartic train. I managed to stop the other two trains. So I have parcels coaches, cartics and ford anglias everywhere.!! - Yes, at the back and awkward to get to,   Took half an hour or so to get everything running and another half hour cleaning frogs !!

     

    Normally everything runs OK - but being a 4 track mainline things can go wrong spectacularly. Fortunately no damage done. I'm going to blue tack all those cars to the cartics ASAP.

     

    I don't mind if at a show things go wrong - happens on the real railway every day so it's prototypical !!

     

    Brit15

    Driving standards

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted · Edited by APOLLO

    Yes both my Audis were 5 cylinders, if I remember correctly the 90 had a slightly smaller cc engine than the 100. Both nice cars to drive but the wallet hated them !!

     

    The later (last) 100 was a beautiful car - CD 0.29 so it said on the side - looked at a few but remembered the other two !!. 

     

    5849423868_7c1055f59b_m.jpg

     

    Brit15

    Driving standards

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    OY !!!!  I had two Audis years ago though. First was a 1978 Audi 100 GL5E, went like stink but ate CV joints, second a Audi 90, again a nice drivers car BUT both cost an arm and leg in repairs, running costs and insurance. I vowed Audi - NEVER AGAIN. They rusted badly also. In 1989 I bought a brand new Peugeot 405 Diesel - 54 MPG (non turbo), most reliable & cheap to runcar I have ever had - though it didn't "Take my breath away" like the GL5E did !!!!! I sold it to a local Taxi firm for cash !!!

     

    As to driving in London - the congestion charge is just for starters - try parking !!!

     

    The war against driving has just started - it will be long and bitter. Expect to see congestion and emissions charges at a city / large town near you soon - and DON'T expect better rail bus services either, Mr Grayling etc. will see to that.

     

    Driving standards seem to me to relate to the general feeling of well being (or not) around. More and more people of all descriptions are increasingly "on edge" with various life "matters" and this shows when they are driving quite often.

     

    Anyway folks - Happy Motoring !!

     

    8455cfc049e3b6d01169307ab70094d3--funny-

     

    Brit15

    • Like 2

    Hornby APPOINTS NEW CEO

    in Hornby

    Posted

    That'll probably put an end to the "Bargain Hunters" thread, then!  :jester:  However, the terminally-stingy will always find some alternative way of getting something for as close to nothing as possible.....

     

    Seek and thou shalt find !!!!

     

    Brit15

    Wigan Wallgate

    in Layout topics

    Posted

    Hey Apollo,

    Only just had a look at your Nth American O gauge layout, can't say that American stuff has ever been in my sights but that is impressive I must say. Actually what is IMPRESSIVE is dragging a concrete garage around the country to put it in, now that is dedication!

    I have often throughout my life been reminded by my parents about the stack of 78rpm records that as a 4 yo I dropped while ' helping'. The lot of them shattered ( as they did) except the top one, Frankie Laine's version of the Rock Island Line which only broke in two. My dad glued it back together and is was then forever known as the Rock Island Click, obviously due to some small missing chip or misalignment.  :lol:

    Kev

     

    Thanks for the comments Kev.

     

    The concrete sectional garage was only moved once and that move was only 4 miles or so - I hired a wagon and driver off our work conractor, and with a few mates it was dismantled and moved in just a few hours. Re erection took a bit longer !! (but never again !!!).

     

    Yes the Rock Island line was a mighty fine line (click free version by Lonnie Donegan - can't find Frankie Lanes version - you probably broke the only one !!)

     

     

    Brit15

    For those interested in old cars.

    in Wheeltappers

    Posted

    In the 70's FIAT had a very large parts & distribution centre just to the north of Warrington. Hundreds of Fiat cars were imported and stored before sale on the old USAF Burtonwood airfield nearby, many on grass and some for quite a while too - no wonder they rusted !!

     

    I read somewhere it was Lancia who used re-cycled sub grade Russian steel. Lancias were very nice looking cars in the 70's - just for a year though before the rust set in with a vengeance !!.

     

    Brit15

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