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3 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Or some of the Italian Franco Crosti's. 

 

Jamie

Oh I don't know, they're not that bad, certainly not compared to the RENFE versions...

Chimney through the boiler anyone?!

On 20/04/2024 at 19:22, Ron Ron Ron said:

BA377 is a full size model Spitfire IX

 

 

.

https://iconic-ww2aircraft.co.uk/mark-ix-spitfire-1

That would make it more original than a lot of the Spitfires flying today! 

Regarding the Jaguars at Cosford, a lot have moved on and aren't operational. Cosford have got three Hawks and the Typhoon prototype that was previously on display at Duxford for training. 

Talking of Typoons, ZJ913 was rolled out this morning for the cameras, ready for the 2024 airshow season...

Oooh....! Appears ZJ914 "Blackjack" will be the spare jet this season.

35 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

All 3 of Ian Rileys Black 5’s have air braking, they have done for many years.

And today all three are in use in Scotland… 45407/44871 are to Glasgow, then Inverness tomorrow, whilst 45212 is on the Mallaig.

 

I suspect you may be right on vac braked stock, and hence the cdl hold off…. Because the expense triples… AB mk1’s, AB the steam locos then CDL the stock.

 

There seems to be a mk1 exemption date running until 2028 too… theres no guarentees that goal post wont shift either to an outright ban of mk1’s no matter what…

 

Then there is also sealing the droplights and fitting interior doir handles….

 

it also means any other steam preservation groups 45596, 45305,777,70013,76084 wont be able to go mainline any more either unless a vac braked cdl solution emerges… 

 

I do see a lot of business risk to this… LSL has thrown huge wedges at its dozen coaches.. WCRC I still think may run until the end and just wrap it all up… Carnforths seaside location and proximity to the motorway is a multi million property development just waiting to be scooped up… the scrapping coaches / diesel fleet and clearing the site a huge tax offset to the above…

 

put it another way.., if I owned that lot and only cared about money.. i’d be binning the lot for a property development too… theres way more potential there than wcrcs company value.

 

 

 

 

 

SRPS are fitting their dual-braked Mk1s with electrical CDL that doesn't need an air supply, and I assume Vintage will do the same to their stock as well. So the solution is out there, but the Yorkshire farmer isn't willing to stump up the cash to fit it to his stock. Instead he's happy to lose the income from about 50 railtours in the summer - he's said the air con isn't effective in Mk2s in the summer so the stock won't be used. RTC have about 35 trips booked from mid-May to mid-Sept, WCRC have about 15. Yet WCRC are still happy to send the Northern Belle out every few days in the summer!

12 minutes ago, Tony Teague said:

If that is right it would be very odd, with Sir Archie out, the Atlantic expected and the Q on fast overhaul.

I hope you are wrong!

Tony

There's also 73082 and 80151 as well, so 5 big locos with 30541 expected back at some point. Does seem a bit of overkill but if the owners and the railway are happy, then it's all good.

1 hour ago, nightstar.train said:

Maybe. But I’d think a rake of Mk3s with 37s will attract a lot more rail enthusiasts than “civilians”. Overseas tourists will want a steam engine pulling red coaches to get the Harry Potter experience. And even if it’s aimed at local tourists it’s still very short notice, and rather early in the morning. The last trains did get some punters, but not even enough to fill 2 coaches. I doubt it made a single pfennig in profit. They’d be better running in the afternoon Jacobite slot. Although do WCRC own that at this time of year? They obviously do in the summer, I’m not familiar with their access agreements. 

160 passengers on the Monday, 40 on the Tuesday I believe. It's not possible to get it to it by train without staying overnight the previous day, which really doesn't help.  Then 4 hours back in Fort William before the next train south. 

At least today's passengers didn't have to worry about the weather in Mallaig - the train stalled leaving Glenfinnan and couldn't get going again, even with hand sanding. Driver had to go back to Fort William to fetch a diesel.

7 minutes ago, ruggedpeak said:

Apologies if this has been answered before, but if no ETH loco what powers the CDL?

The coach batteries. It only needs power to unlock it, air pressure keeps the locks engaged in service.

22 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Couldn't see a loco on the back of for ETH etc and why is there a mk1 between each mk2.

 

Are they trying to prove something here or finding a way to get around the regulations and avoid fitting CDL to the Mk1s.

 

It certainly arrived with a 47 on the tail as the ECS from Carnforth.

 

 

Because in their wisdom, rather than sending one of their dozen or so ETS fitted 47s/57s up the Fort William, the ranch dispatched 47245. The other two WCRC locos up there are a pair of non-ETS fitted 37s.

I really feel for the passengers today. You have two hours in cold, very wet and very windy Mallaig, and your train back is a set of cold, dark Mk2s that have been parked up for years until this week. WCRC are massively shooting themselves in the foot with this farce of an operation.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ViYzQA2jJ15C4WvJ/

45212 tender first. Looks very dark in the coaches! 

Edit - load 7. Four CDL Mk2s and three Mk1s with the doors locked out of use.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/UH7aiw9TJNM2qiCW/

6989 is staying for the 2025 season as well.

On 14/04/2024 at 10:41, rogerzilla said:

The SVR website says it won't be running at next weekend's steam gala.  Must have teething troubles.

They haven't had time to find out if it's got teething troubles! It was meant to be ready in January (or 2018 if you read their website) but has only just been completed. It's already missed two galas, won't be at SVR in time, and its booking for WSR in May has been cancelled as well.

The Bluebell Atlantic group have got it right - it'll be ready when it's ready. I know they've got a date in mind, but won't announce it publicly until it's completed and fully tested.

15 hours ago, Jeremy Cumberland said:

Do you have a rule book you can quote from?

 

There is nothing in RSR99 that precludes taking doors out of passenger use. It is only doors for use by passengers that require CDL. Of course, there may well be some other rule that prevents operators from locking doors out of use.

 

@phil-b259 pointed out earlier in this thread that Mk1 RUs didn't have any passenger doors - something I had forgotten (and now that I do some checking, I don't think RBs had passenger doors either). Would these be permitted today? Doubtless the loose seats that RUs used to have wouldn't be permitted, but these could be replaced with fixed seats.

 

I see WCRC does have an RU in its fleet (1961), but it has had the seating removed.

 

Edit: I spent so long writing this that Phil got in before me.

The RUs and RBRs have emergency doors that can only be opened from the inside, as well as the doors in and around the kitchen area. I'd be very surprised if ORR allowed WCRC to run with a passenger-carrying RMB in the middle of the set with all the doors locked shut.

But I'm sure all will become clear soon as the empty stock arrived at Fort William on time this morning. 6 degrees and windy up there at the moment. It's going to be bloody cold on the train as WCRC contrived to send their only non-ETS fitted 47 up with the stock. How long will the batteries last for the lights and CDL? I can only hope they've found some way of charging them up, otherwise it's going to be a disaster.

45212 is moving from Keighley to Carnforth this evening. I assume it's then heading north over the weekend ready for Monday morning. What the stock will be, who knows?

The windows look quite recessed, plus both ends are blocked with the fire escape and chimneys, so just adding the horizontal rows of panelling with painted windows in between should be enough. If it's not easily visible I wouldn't worry too much about it. 

6 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Back in the 1950s however very few would have had even one car. The provision was adequate for the time as, in all likelihood, was the local bus service. 
 

Hertfordshire is one of the most supportive authorities of bus services outside London and Manchester but service provision is still far less than it was 50/60 years ago when Routemasters were among the types you could find trundling past fairly frequently. 
 

 

I should've put "where only half the houses have driveways, yet now most households have two cars". When I say half the houses have driveways, I mean one side of some of the streets have drives while the other side doesn't! Our road only has houses on one side, there's a school field on the opposite side, and the way the houses zigzag backwards and forwards means not all have drives, or even space for driveways. 

13 hours ago, Ohmisterporter said:

I thought so. Wondering how much room there is between the hedge and the cab though. Poor bit of pavement parking.

There was a good couple of feet between the hedge and the side of the bus, the shadows and the angle hide it quite well. To be honest, it was one of the better bits of pavement parking round here! The joys of a 1950s council estate where only half the houses have driveways, yet most households have two cars. Lots of green spaces and grass verges but nowhere to park vehicles easily.

Not what you expect to find on a council estate in Hertfordshire! I was popping to the shops this afternoon and this was parked up round the corner from the house. I've no idea why it was there, as it appears to be owned by The London Bus Company based in Northfleet, Kent 

On 20/03/2024 at 11:08, KeithHC said:

Ah but if you do a single track blt…… There is the terminus and maybe a passing loop so by default we have double track again. Back to the drawing board. Now how much room do I need for Stourbridge Town……

 

Keith

Horizontally or vertically?

On 19/03/2024 at 19:22, Mol_PMB said:

Great, many thanks for the research and the interesting photos!

 

I've just found out about this and booked myself a ticket. I hope there are still a few places left:

https://www.bahnoldtimer.com/romandie/

It's a 2-day vintage train trip in June, over the whole MOB / TPF / CEV metre gauge network, mostly with RhB Bernina motive power but with GFM 131 on the TPF section.

 

Very jealous! I saw that advertised the other day. Pretty cheap for what's included, and return flights are less than £100 at present. I don't think the wife would be happy if I disappeared to her favourite country for the weekend without her though!

3 hours ago, Boris said:

Penny to a pound they'll be arguing with the LNERCA over who has to pay for the tyres, and if its the NYMR that'll take years because  they are financially screwed.

Yet not screwed enough to try and buy a set of grotty Mk2 air cons though.

Rumours that the railway are getting a set of Mk2 air cons. Partly for the gala for air braked locos, and partly to cover the shortfall in stock with the withdrawal of the teaks. Though surely buying a few sets of tyres for the teaks will cost less than buying a set of grotty Mk2s that haven't turned a wheel for 5 years?

On 14/03/2024 at 08:57, jonhall said:

For an interesting gallery of Italian wagons I would point you in this direction 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alcoalbe/albums/72157626296398927/with/6907663136

 

Jon

There are some fantastic albums on there for various things, a wonderful resource. Sadly Alessandro Albe passed away about 4 years ago, so his Flickr site is no longer updated. It also means there's a chance it could disappear at any time, so if you see anything that may be of use, download/screenshot whatever is required.

On 03/03/2024 at 13:18, Blefuscu said:

Nice - thank you! It's the 1980 version I'm really looking for - but more angles from the late seventies are very useful. I hadn't noticed that tower on the left before... I wonder if that had come down by 1980?

 

Here's the cover of my forthcoming book lol...

 

 

The tower was the water tower for the wash plant. I believe it came down in about 2007. It was certainly there when I started my apprenticeship there in 2005, but is missing from photos taken in 2008. 

If anybody wants their own 141R, the partly overhauled remains of 1207 and 1332 are for sale in Switzerland.

https://www.railpassion.fr/materiel-actualites-rp/des-mikado-francaises-en-suisse/

I believe there's enough for one complete loco there, plus a spare set of frames, driving wheels and other parts, the rest were sold for scrap when the previous owner went bankrupt. I don't believe they're cheap though!