CovDriver

I'm looking at starting another as I'm getting a bit bored with Ashbridge and hopefully do a BR blue depot based on the Midland region and getting it on the exhibition circuit.

I was also watching this on Ebay so you was the lucky person I'll be keeping an eye on this little project of yours. Cheers Colin

Liking the fish Trev like you say very therapeutic I could watch fish for hours a bit like when I had 4 Piranha's I loved feeding them fresh steak once or twice a week and seeing the carnage. The layout is coming on really well wish I had the time to do more on mine before I move it on. Cheers Col

I've not looked on this thread for a while and the layout is looking fantastic perhaps I need to have a word with SWMBO and see about a shed like yours as that would cure a few storage problems for my layout. I'm really liking the row of houses and the station building I wish I could build to that standard. Keep up the great work Cheers Colin

Cheers Geoff I was just trying out the new camera but they now have a caption with a bit of info. Cheers Colin

Right these pics are from my new little compact Cannon camera let's see what happens This is 350250 waiting for yet another late departure from Wolverhampton this morning 2A07 07:50 Wolverhampton to Walsall service Here's the view from the office window it's not very often I get a red here at SY25 signal but as the slippy season is upon us i was held up here for about 5mins or so with some delays on the cross city near Longbridge. The culprit in the reversal sidings at Longbridge ah well time for a cuppa From earlier this morning whilst waiting for another late departure this thing came through I absolutley hate following these as it's a nightmare trying to gain traction and worse of all trying to stop. My last one from today a semi fast service from Lichfield City to Redditch 2R45 12:47 departure which I took as far as New St it feel so odd running express from Sutton Coldfield to New St

Many thanks Geoff I don't know what it is I take the pics on my mobile and it was the right way up but it still uploads my pic being rotated the wrong way. Cheers

Just one pic from tonight's spare turn it was 5C73 New St to B'ham international with an odd looking destination board.

Some really good pics there Jim you passed Coventry before I put the last one in the yard lastnight just after Midnight so our chances of passing each other at work is getting closer. Cheers Colin

I've just watched your latest edition of Pendeford today and I was absolutley howling at the names in the credits for Spy High also the ads are the best yet the edition of Pendeford sidings was very good as well. Keep up the great work i'm looking forward to the next installment already. Cheers Colin

Just one from tonight's turn here's 323206 at Birmingham International waiting to work the 2224 shuttle to New St.

From memory 350's have never been used on the shuttles and they never will be the acceleration on them really knocks the timings and thanks for mentioning the shuttles I've got an evening of them on tomorrow night. It's a shame we can't keep the 323 fleet they're excellent from a drivers point of view no computers to go wrong and the view from a cab is great unlike a 350 the acceleration on the 323 can out run a 350 and a pendolino I've heard from a good source that when they did there fault free mileage accumulation runs on the Trent valley the speed wasn't restricted and speeds had been reported of 120mph before they limited them to 90mph. Cheers Colin

Here's the new Standards that now apply to rolling stock on Network Rail infrastructure the new transpennine livery on the class 68's have dispensed with a yellow panel altogether. https://www.rssb.co.uk/Pages/visibility-of-trains-what-is-changing.aspx Cheers Colin P.S. I think the livery is Bl**dy awful If this is the final livery I'm dreading the new uniform.

Usually if 2Y64 2255 New St to Northampton is cancelled they will advise passengers to use other local services towards Coventry such as using the 2314 local to Coventry and then have a replacement bus from Coventry to all stations to Northampton. I think that 2Y64 is a Coventry job on Saturday I know for certain it is Mon-Fri as I'm on it one night next week. I know that all driver turns had been covered from Coventry today so it may be staff sickness. Cheers Colin

And Stechford is twinned with Beirut,The most outrageous thing I've seen by the flats at Willenhall had to be a trail bike speeding along the down line. But what topped that off was some kids literally hanging off the signal by the flats on the up line. I've had three outer skins shattered by air rifle pellets on a 350 the week I became qualified. Oh it's a joy running the gauntlet along bomb alley. Cheers Colin

Thanks for your comments I currently sign Wolverhampton to New St, New St to Walsall (via Witton), Redditch to Lichfield TV and of course New St to Northampton. And as for Willenhall yes that can still be a problem with the kids thinking it's a playground I've had a near miss coming past there doing 110mph a while back. And I don't sign the Coventry-Nuneaton branch at the moment as that's for link 1 drivers only but with the franchise changeover and Leamington Spa branch happening in the very near future that could change. I can sometimes get a good run from Rugby to Coventry and be waiting at Coventry for upto 4mins for a right time departure. Cheers Colin

Many thanks Geoff I thought I had the phone the right way up to keep the pic right but the phone must be throwing a hissy fit. Cheers Colin

Only one photo from me tonight 350368 at Northampton about to work 1Y85 the 2156 Northampton to Crewe service via Coventry and New St. So much for being spare today as I copped a New St turn and it was non stop except my bare minimum PnB.

Sorry some of the photo's are the wrong way around its because I use my phone whilst at work as I can't fit my proper camera in my bag. Must buy a small decent compact camera !!

As its been a while I'm back out again now I've been given the all clear after a new pair of glasses. And a trip fown the Redditch branch sorry no photo's as I was late because of problems earlier on the Cross city line. There's just a couple of pics in Coventry North yard The first pic didn't really come out well but it's 66418 stabled in the Kemps siding i can't honestly remember the last time i saw a loco in there. The other two are showing 153334 stabled for the night and 323208 waiting to enter number 1 road while I check the hand points and no taxi again for me so it was a cold damp walk back up to the booking in ooint. I'm spare today from 1600 until 0045 but if I'm utilised by the DTCM I'll try and take some photo's.

Well thats a Bachmann 2 car 150 DCC fitted for the layout to run in late 1980's era. Im wondering can I have dummy point motors and semaphore signals at the same time I'm trying to keep it prototypical and not set the layout in a definitive period as I keep finding stock in the attic that I'd forgotten I had hence the 2 car 150 unit now being DCC fitted. Cheers Colin