Steadfast

Found the article! https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-can-of-worms-opened-by-hamilton-and-leclercs-f1-us-gp-disqualifications/10536696/ The relevant section: The FIA can zero in on which cars to single out for further inspection based on a variety of indicators. In the case of a worn floor, a beaten-up titanium skid plate gives off a strong smell that can arouse suspicion from the pitwall. A better read is the onboard footage, which the FIA will monitor to see if drivers’ heads are wobbling as a result of bottoming out over bumps. Jo

Nope. https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/product/class-47-7-47745-'royal-london-soc-for-the-blind'-rail-express-syst/372-262 Jo

An article I read the other day mentioned that they can also choose a car to inspect based in smell. The metal the skid blocks are made of give off a particular smell when hot apparently, and the FIA can inspect should they be suspicious Jo

I did think of you as I typed it! Jo

153376 has been repainted for Network Rail use. It was in Stagecoach colours before. The light blue does match NR polo shirts, maybe the yellow trains are going blue? Jo

Nice work Rich, that'll set the locos off nicely Jo

Warm water makes the decal release from the backing paper quicker and with some types makes the decal softer and more malleable. The paper is gummed, soaking in water activates the sticky surface, some of which goes with the decal as it is released. Jo

How long before the FOCs are making a chunk being regularly hired to conduct passenger services on diversion? Not likely I know, however in the land of the DfT I can picture them paying way more in FOC driver hire and buses than the cost of keeping TOC driver's diversionary knowledge up. Having the ability to get from A to B 2 or 3 different ways is standard for freight drivers, and that's in an industry where every penny of profit is hard fought for. If we can afford it, why can't the government... Jo

The options with the Wascosa FEAs are Salmon, Tench or Mullet modules. There is no plan for an Osprey style module from what I've been told. The Osprey appear to have a stay of execution at the moment, though no one seems to know how long, and the message to stop using old Salmon literally came out in the week before the weekend that trains were being readied for. A limitation of the Osprey is they can't be loaded as easily under wires as the panels have to be lifted higher to get over the stanchions, not an issue with Salmon as you can go in horizontally. I believe as more of the network got wired, this is why some Osprey got converted back to Salmon, though it was a few years ago the got the stanchions removed, so it's a hazy memory, so take that with a pinch of salt. Jo

This may assist @GEARJAMMER The only silver ones in Mendip traffic at present are the initial MRL branded ones. The silver VTG ones in the area are single pipe and in use by DB, mixed in with single pipe VTG blue and Ermewa grey wagons. The initial MRL silver, and all wagons in use with DB, are in the 5500 number series. The new blue ones in use on Mendip traffic are in the 5932 number series, and other than being twin piped are very visually similar to the navy blue 5500 series wagons. Some minor livery variations, but very similar. Some Flickr links: A 5500 wagon, as in use with DB (I think GB have some too but not something I've seen first hand) A 5932 wagon, as in use with Freightliner. Note the VTG logo position. Jo

Well if you dislike them so much I'll gladly spend the weekend playing with the noisy screamy loco. I do like a 56, and wouldn't mind that model shrunk down. This went though Cary about 30 mins later. 10 autos for Bristol via Taunton. Jo

That one won't be an RHTT, the 2Q headcode suggest an NR DMU. Hope that helps Jo

Why do I feel I resemble that remark?... Looking forward to it Jo

I've just made the jump to a Series X, a combination of vouchers for my birthday and an Amazon sale last week meant I netted it for sub £400. I've only played RDR 2 on it so far, but the in console 4K upscaling of the Xbox One game makes it look pretty special. Sadly these screenshots have had to be shrunk pretty heavily to fit on one post, but it's still a pretty nice looking game. The upcoming WRC game is what made me feel the need to upgrade, as its the first current gen only game that I've really been interested in. Jo

Covered steel wagons still serve 'sheds', due to the need to keep the product covered from the weather. Preymesser at Swindon is one such example, and there are a load of photos inside at Swindon on Flickr for details. Jo

Spotted yesterday while road learning, Newbury still has some NSE heritage. Waiting time at Newbury to form the 13.10 departure for Reading, 387143 sits in Platform 3 as 387157 runs into Platform 1 with an arrival from London Paddington. The platform signage provides an increasingly rare throwback to older times, harking back to the Network SouthEast era. The signs are probably older than me, and the distinctive blue numbers have faded over the time they've been up. A First Great Western blue and pink, sorry, Rubine Red, strip covers the NSE flash across the bottom of the signs. There's a few other signs from the era dotted around Newbury too, a shame the red lamp posts are long gone! I reckon an Electrostar would look good in NSE, how about it GWR? Jo

Now that is very sensible. No doubt the bean counters need it to have a passenger benefit, but in the real world that is a massive enabler for electric freight. Jo

I'll believe it when I see it though. There's a lot of "could" in there and the metro mayor (of which I'm not sure what he does besides have his face on the back of buses) will no doubt claim it for MetroWest, which in itself is no bad idea, improving local services in the area. 74.We will boost funding to the West of England Combined Authority by £100 million.50 The funding could be used for an extension of MetroWest to the south – covering Weston-super-Mare, Taunton/Exeter, and Worle/Weston-super-Mare Parkway. The authority could also start Temple Meads passenger and capacity enhancements, step-free access across the network and complete electrification between Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Chippenham. Let's see eh? Would be nice to see the money used to wire freight terminals and loops and to help subsidise electric freight to help get more freight on rail. Jo

Now they have management in place again, Ott Tanak is returning to Hyundai next year. With Toyota expected to retain the line up, could be an interesting line up at Ford, with a selection of younger drivers like they had to do a few years ago, unless Lappi decides he doesn't want to risk sharing a car with Suninen. His commitment to a full season was made before Tanak returned to Alzenau. One to keep an eye on. Jo

I think your model is right. Compare the open battery switch door. The inside of it almost matches the Exec Light Grey, but is noticeable against the white above the red. Many weird things have happened in history such as repaints in the wrong shade, but I wonder if the loco got painted Mainline / Exec, then got a swallow sticker slapped on at depot level. Jo

Flickr is my go to search for anything railway. Google search seems to get worse as the years go on. Mainline livery used Executive Light Grey as the lower shade. I can't remember off hand if the upper grey is Falcon or Executive Dark Grey. Executive as a livery probably refers to this style of InterCity branding, as it can be known as Intercity executive, presumably due to the paints used. Intercity Swallow coming later. https://flic.kr/p/2ecEUmL I think your repaint looks right, Swallow logo but Executive Light Grey lower Jo

Stick "08570 Waverley" into the search box on Flickr. 100% that's executive light grey (the mainline shade). Jo

For completeness, anyone not familiar with painted sleepers to mark fouling points it is as simple as it sounds. Literally paint the sleeper yellow (other colours also available in some yards!) and perhaps the side of the rail too. Jo

Sounds eminently sensible to me. If you stop once too much, you can always ease up again. A bit like a red signal. Better to stop short and pull up than go sailing by... Jo

On the mainline it will be a WCRC or DB driver, fireman and inspector, depending who is running the train, with a representative from the loco on hand. On a preserved line, no idea, but it would follow the same logic that preserved line staff / volunteers that sign the road drive it, just like any other visiting loco, and no doubt accompanied by a rep from the loco owner. Jo