black and decker boy

Good job it wasn't foggy or there would have been reports of ghost trains being heard through Yorkshire....

that was my thought and why I gave the more pessimistic of the dates, we should know for sure 01/01/2019 :-)

NR report here http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-Update.pdf Page 89 for GWML. Filton bank and Temple Meads infrastructure completion stated only as CP6. Infrastructure to Bristol parkway and Cardiff complete 2019 but Start of electric services listed only as CP6! Start of infrastructure west of Carfiff stated only as CP6....

Inside talk that mention of Bristol in this is Parkway only, Temple Meads and Bath not included!!! No surprise that the electric spine is missing given the lack of support from FOCs.

Will it have the extra body side box & grilles and pipe runs evident in the photo?

An EE type1 rests awaiting the Kirkmellington colliery shunter to load the next rake of coal for Ayr

319s are 100mph only. https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/downloads/brochures/319%20Brochure.pdf 110mph is currently only certified for the latest units, 350 and 387 types.

If you subscribe to Youtube, you can upload in HD for free. No weekly limits either.

I'm sure we will see lots of short rakes "on their way to WH Davis" appearing at exhibitions which is a good excuse for a 66 and single wagon.

Sadly the Liverpool and Manchester wiring was also regarded as something of a farce with the contractor making the same mistakes (and delays) on phase 2 as they did on phase 1. The contractor then resigned from all future phases and dumped them in the bin.

At least now we know why Drax mentioned us buying 1each in their first post on page 1.... With the way coal / generation is going, Drax may need to do another run around 2025 as it may be their highest margin business stream by then.

Well that rules out a rake. Can 1 be justified?

Not expensive yet but certainly poor value given the underlying model and its age http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/371531703989?ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%2Fe11401.m2368.l3160%2F7%3Feuid%3Dec96099f35134625a07e527ca3ad3276%26loc%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252F371531703989%253F_trksid%253Dp11401.c100143.m2803%2526_trkparms%253Daid%25253D333008%252526algo%25253DRIC.MBE%252526ao%25253D1%252526asc%25253D20140212123443%252526meid%25253Dec9bce5c8fcf495c8c267d233856c9f3%252526pid%25253D100143%252526rk%25253D3%252526rkt%25253D8%252526sd%25253D201497201108%26srcrot%3De11401.m2368.l3160%26rvr_id%3D0&_trkparms=aid=333008&algo=RIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=20140212123443&meid=ec9bce5c8fcf495c8c267d233856c9f3&pid=100143&rk=3&rkt=8&sd=201497201108&_trksid=p11401.c100143.m2803&_mwBanner=1

Probably more to do with easy wins, they perhaps know they can finish that bit whereas the Temple Meads route is still full of unknowns and risk and we know Oxford is full of the council and nimbys (=delays and uncertainty)

Posted on WNXX late last night by a reliable GWR employee "Ingleborough" "This is what came out during a meeting at work this afternoon. Temple Meads via Bath and Chippenham will not see wires for a long time. No provisional date could be given. The only route fully wired by December 2018 under the latest revision is London to Swindon to Bristol Parkway. There is not even an estimate for dates to reach Cardiff, Swansea, Oxford, Newbury and Basingstoke. Thames Valley Branches not even mentioned. Temple Meads redevelopment will have to be finished before electrification reaches it, and that means the Filton bank work has to be finished at the same time. So it will be pull into Swindon or Bristol Parkway, pan down, fire up the MTUs and carry on at a reduced speed."

Very pleased with these sounds, had a great time testing it last Friday. Hope to have it running at Southampton show in a few weeks.

simply amazing :-)

The UK freight scene is very fluid and each company has different problems. GBRF and COLAS seem to be doing well and winning new traffic so have a need for further locos. COLAS have just taken over the cement flows from Oxwellmains for example (and are still catching up with their test train loco requirements). They also have a large contract with NR for infrastructure work which is why locos seem parked up - they are actually on hire to NR usually. GBRF have new flows of stone from Ribblehead and a big increase in Biomass coming up plus Crossrail seems to be using several of their newest 66s. Freightliner is suffering the loss of coal work and has spare 66s but is currently preparing these for work in Poland. Not sure if DBS is sat on spare locos or not. DRS have a surplus of older traction with the 68s arriving in numbers and COLAS providing the test train traction in house plus IIRC they have lost one of the DIRFT - Scotland flows to Freightliner.

Yes, the derogation ended 31st December 2014, however, a loophole remained in that it was only the power unit that had to be inside the EU and registered. GBRF are currently awaiting delivery of a final batch of 66s which used this loophole (as did all those delivered in 2015). It is possible that COLAS have done the same and bought the power units in 2014 in case they needed (or knowing they would need) more locos. It's also possible GE have found a way to do an upgrade.

I'll add my vote for 4mm versions

Knowing how things get spun, 11700m of wiring probably equates to under 4000m of plain line (assuming contact wire, top wire and return wire). It's still hardly a drop in the ocean but at least they are moving forward.

Regulars trotted out at work First and foremost Sustainability (when in reality discussing making more profit and not meaning being a green business) Road map / route map Above and beyond Exemplar