CovDriver

I'm really looking forward to be part of the operating team on this great layout again.

The small single storey building almost next to timber yard is I believe the original Midland railway station building.

With the site being a bit slow the last few days here's a few pics from my wanderings at work. Firstly here is 37418,86259 and a DB class 90 stabled in the old carriage sidings at Rugby.

I did see you on the platform as I was arriving into New St with my pair of 323's which I ended up taking to Soho after I had problems with them at Fiveways.

Cracking pics Jim, the 88 passed me at Daventry on my way back to Coventry. I was speaking to an ex colleague of yours from the Fastline freight days goes by the name of Darrel Smith he sends his best regards. Cheers Colin

Such a shame these may end up being thrown away, I would of had these but no transport available at all I'm sadly gonna miss out.

Well my 2nd booked Sunday for this year first a taxi to Coventry North Yard to prep a double 350 set but it appears someone has nicked one of my units as you can see in the first pic the 350 in the distance (241) is on its own on road 1. The second pic shows 350129 and there was another on the rear at Coventry for my second viiti to New St im not sure of the number as I was more bothered about avoiding flying debris from the high winds between Long Buckby and Coventry. One more turn tomorrow then a few days away in Edinburgh with the family. Cheers Colin

No pics today I'm afraid but the job started off as planned with the prep of a 12 car 350 set and taking it to Coventry. Then I was informed my 0640 departure from Northampton was cancelled and an emergency timetable was in operation as well as a national blanket speed restriction of 50mph was in operation. So I had the delights of the 0655 service from Northampton calling all stations to Birmingham New St except Adderley with a maximum speed of 50mph. Boy that was painful but every cloud has a silver lining my next booked part of my job the 0925 was again covered by an instructor and trainee. So all being well should be done by 1030 and potentially I can do some modelling on my little layout ? Cheers Colin

Just a couple from today's job that started at 0404 with a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a 12 car 350 set and take it to Coventry and detach the rear 4 and continue to Northampton as an 8 car at 0542. Then it was return to New St at 0640 with a different 8 car set for a lengthy pnb and I was the supposed to take the 0925 New St to Lichfield TV service but as an instructor and trainee were waiting to take it forward I had a good result a nice 2 and half hour early finish. Same job again tomorrow and it's not going to be a good one if this storm does wreak havoc on the railway. Cheers Colin

Back to it this morning with an 0350 book on so it was a taxi to Coventry North Yard to prep a couple of 323's and take them to New St ECS. Then pick up another pair and work the 0618 New St to Redditch service and back to New St. As I arrived into New St on the return a 66 hauled charter was arriving into platform 8. Then a 30 minute PnB and take a pair of 350's to Northampton departing New St at 0833. Followed by returning to New St with another pair and travelling pass back to Coventry for a finish at 1145.

I remember the original article in Model Rail all those years ago I may have that magazine somewhere. It was a great inspirational layout back then and looking at this post it's still very much so. I'm glad it's now on here and it's great to see it after all these years. I'll be following with great interest. Cheers Colin

Well that was an eventful turn today everything was going so well until I took a pair of 323's to Bromsgrove (323218&207). As there was a traction converter isolated on one unit so in effect I only had 1 and half trains worth of power. It was a bit low on power and something just didn't seem right some stations enroute to Bromsgrove I was lucky to make 40mph. Where upon arrival at Bromsgrove my guard informed me that the converter / bogie that had been isolated was a little bit on the warm side. After a thorough examination we had been authorised to return towards New St to be met by fitters. The slog up Lickey Bank we reached 29mph at the top instead of the more usual 63mph. I ended up missing my booked train back to Coventry so a little bit of overtime was gained. Off for two days now looking after the youngest daughter who's had Covid-19 for the 2nd time. There's potential that I may get some modelling work done on Thursday. Cheers Colin

Sorry Jim I'm double rest day tomorrow and Thursday back in Friday at 0527 I should be working the local 0545 off Coventry to New St.

I passed the return working this morning around Hampton in Arden as I was working a service to Northampton, I did wonder if you was working it jim ? Cheers Colin

First proper turn back at work after spring leave and it's a 3 minute taxi ride from the booking on point to Coventry North Yard to prep a pair of 350's to form the 0607 Coventry to New St service which included a North end shunt from the yard upto the limit of electrification on the Bedworth branch. Soits 350104 & 262 turn to have shunt around this morning. Then I'll take 262 to Northampton an couple up to an 8 car set waiting for me. Then it's on the cushions to New St followed by a trip to Bromsgrove and back to New St and on the cushions again back o Coventry.

ooh that's a proper top shelf picture of the 86's

Been a bit quiet as I've had just the same couple of turns for the last couple of weeks, mostly full return trips on the cross city line. I should take some pics of the 323 fleet before they go and be replaced with the new class 730's. I'm thinking about organising a farewell tour with the class 323 before they transfer to Northern. I'll keep you updated once I know any more info . In the meantime here is a pic of 350108 &129 waiting to work the 0640 Northampton to New St service this morning. And I'm now long weekend followed by a week off with Spring leave. Hopefully I'll manage to get some modelling work done as I'm hoping to get some stock ready for April at the Statfold Barn Railway show as I'm one of the operating team on the Southgate Park layout. Cheers Colin

Happy New year to all the RMWebbers Just a couple from today as it's my first day back after the New Year. 150255 at Birmingham International waiting to work 0706 TfW service to Shrewsbury.My trusty steed at Birmingham New St waiting for its 2nd trip to B'ham International.

My second to last train of 2021, 5F32 0608 Coventry North Yard to Birmingham New St. A rare move these days due to a set of defective points in Coventry North Yard anything that is stabled on road 2 has to depart via the North end and cross over the up and the down Bedworth lines to enable a shunt move back into Coventry station. My picture taken from a position of safety 30/12/2021. Happy New Year to all my followers and viewers let's hope 2022 is a better year. Cheers Colin

It's certainly back to carrying fresh air around the Midlands again on our services. I'm in Christmas day on frost precaution duty. It's not feeling like Christmas at all this year.

I'm having the same problem it appears that two of the links on the front page of the magazine have an incorrect weblink.

Thankfully only Shrewsbury,Wolverhampton and Worcester should be learning 196's

It's definitely a right royal PITA having to go back to school as you put it. And also potentially learning class 172 diesel units.

Sorry no pics as there's not been much worth taking pics of. But the last couple of days have been testing to say the least. On Friday morning I was on the prepping a 12 car 350 job again its usually the best job of the depot but that didn't last long. Upon prepping the train it had a parking brake fault which wouldn't reset. So that was a call to Siemens but to avail no luck. I had to wait for a fitter to isolate all the brakes on the rear defective vehicle. A 5 hour wait in total then I had to uncouple units an carry out several shunt moves around Birmingham International to Bury the defective vehicle whilst other services were running. And then wait for a path to run ECS to Northampton King's Heath. And yesterday was just the icing on the cake again running a 12 car 350 ECS from Coventry to Birmingham New St I hit a tree near Adderley Park at about 80mph that was an interesting few moments to say the least. Just a couple of pics attached for your entertainment the first one was from yesterday a brief visit to Redditch with 323206 I literally couldn't see where I was going from Selly Oak to Alvechurch. The second pic is the regular move from Kings Heah depot to Cricklewood with a GBRf 47 for the class 360 modifications And the last pic is the future for me and class 730 and to be honest I'm not looking forward to learning these units. Cheers Colin

Seems like your having a better time than me on Friday morning I was supposed to be prepping units at Birmingham International until I discovered dragging brakes on the rear vehicle and had to wait for fitters to isolate all the brakes on tha vehicle. Ended up waiting 5 hours for a path to Northampton King's Heath Depot. Then yesterday morning I hit a tree at Adderley Park at 80mph that was an interesting few minutes. Cheers Colin