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Post by londonstuff on Jun 8, 2019 11:30:05 GMT
Just a bump that we're intending to have a mini social on Saturday 22nd June at the Red Lion and Pineapple, just a few minutes walk from either Ealing Common or Acton Town and a short tube ride from Ealing Broadway where steam services that day terminate. A map is here. I would imagine that people might be there from about 3pm onwards but please feel free to contribute to this thread to let others know if you're intending to come and the time you're intending to be there from. Under 18s are welcome to attend. Staff who work for TfL are all DBS checked as a matter of course, as are various other staff members in education and healthcare. Better still, please bring along an adult. We will circulate the number of the Forum Phone (if it still exists!) in due course but nowadays anyone struggling to get to the venue or find us might be best to send a PM or post in this thread.
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Post by londonstuff on Jun 8, 2019 11:19:35 GMT
Summer is approaching so it's that time of year again! We try to keep our list of members fairly current but inevitably some existing members move on, change direction or develop other interests. Rather than have our membership numbers artificially inflated, around this time every year the staff on the Forum look through our membership list and prune those who have been inactive for an extended period of time. In general this would only be for members who have not logged in at all this year and in cases of well-established members, much longer than that - it is looked at very much on a case-by-case basis. We certainly don't want to end anyone's membership who wants to continue as a member and so some action might be required before this takes place on Sunday 7th July 2019. Action to be taken: • If you are reading this and are logged in as yourself, or have been at any point in 2019, there's nothing more to do.
• If you are a member who reads the forum but have not logged in during 2018, might we suggest that you do, at least once, before 7th July. Anyone who forgets their username or password can request this to be reset through Proboards (or contact a staff member and we'll do our best to help you). • If you log in in invisible mode, Proboards' software only logs the last time you logged in visibly, so either log in as visible at least once or PM any member of staff just to let us know you're still here.. After the 7th July if there is anyone who is late to this and would like to be restored they are welcome to apply again under the same name. They will have their account and post count restored as it was before. Forum Rules, Statements and PoliciesOne other thing for all members, you invite you to read the various rules and statements that we have: Forum Rules: districtdavesforum.co.uk/thread/9141/forum-rulesSafeguarding Statement: districtdavesforum.co.uk/thread/29590/safeguarding-statement-informationHow we use your Data: districtdavesforum.co.uk/thread/29624/application-process-use-dataThis particular thread is locked but if you have any questions, please contact one of us, thought I'm happy to be the first point of contact. Thanks
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Post by londonstuff on May 31, 2019 9:50:36 GMT
spsmiler and goldenarrow - totally agree about Barons Court, it is very very special, the exterior is beautiful too. I’d forgotten about the benches and the unusual roundels. All very appropriate to have Queen’s Club nearby. Good call on the sign at West Brompton cut away to match the handrails. The crossed W is apparently only one of three left on the Underground. As another beauty, how about the tiling at St John’s Wood and the general uplighters?
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Post by londonstuff on May 29, 2019 9:35:06 GMT
I was looking through some of my photos I've taken of the Underground over the years and smiling at how many nice touches there are across the system: extra little flourishes to add interest to stations and more than just about their function. I've put a couple of my favourites here but no doubt there are many, many more. First and foremost, the original tiles from Elephant and Castle station, which I think are also still extant at King William Street. I think this is my favourite thing on the whole combine and every time I go past I kind of coo at them. The original GWR benches at Hammersmith, not just the font but the general shape of the metalwork on the bench - done to a standard for something at floor level that would never even be considered today. The orange and blue London Transport tiling at Leicester Square, so discreet that you'd miss it if you weren't looking: and finally the lead-type window roundel at Sudbury Town complete with the beautiful serifs and the transparent windows and quarter divides. If I worked there I'd be cleaning this up immediately!
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Post by londonstuff on May 28, 2019 22:37:07 GMT
Romster? ...not much better... Romster - sounds like the first bit of a particularly edible potato-based snack. It’s definitely got a ring to it. 😂
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Post by londonstuff on May 28, 2019 11:33:40 GMT
The District Dave legal team have also asked me to point out that any similarities to a spandex-wearing superhero are also purely co-incidental.
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SPADs
May 28, 2019 9:06:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by londonstuff on May 28, 2019 9:06:58 GMT
A semi-related question. While waiting for a Met train yesterday at Finchley Road, I noticed the northbound starter has co-acting signals that are not directly opposite each other (the one on the left side of the track is a few feet further away from the platform than the gantry-mounted one is). This made me wonder whether stopping between the two signals (when they're displaying danger) would be classed as a SPAD or whether both signals need to be passed for that? Isn’t the co-acting one just basically a repeater so it’s the original signal which counts? The co-acting one is, as far as I’m aware, often used to improve sight lines, etc. a lot of them were introduced with the S Stock for this, e.g. St James’s Park e/b.
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Post by londonstuff on May 26, 2019 18:13:22 GMT
Job descriptions of forum staff in Section 11 have been updated as per this thread.
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Post by londonstuff on May 13, 2019 13:16:42 GMT
As I understand it, the consequences of passing a signal at danger are (potentially) more severe now than in previous eras, and the philosophy/culture of defensive driving is somewhat more significant these days. These will undoubtedly play a role in different driver behaviours. You are probably correct. From anecdotal evidence, it seems "back in the day" SPaD's at automatic signals were often not reported and it seems from mess room chat, actively discouraged. Nowadays, SPaD's are taken very seriously and if you have four safety critical incidents in a 2 year period, you could find yourself in a bit of bother. Coming back to the video, it seems signal OE260 is the draw up signal for what I will presume is OE26, the station starter and is designed to protect overruns at that signal and the diverging junction ahead. The draw up signal will work automatically based on a timing section so skilled drivers will understand the approach speed required to clear the signal. However, the "Can I stop if I need to" rule seems not to be in practice in this instance! We do teach defensive driving but in my view, the training, certainly on my manual line, is insufficient for the trainee (or cross transfer) to fully appreciate the ins and outs of the signalling on the line. You really do need an understanding of what is likely to happen in any given circumstance at pretty much every section of the line. Most drivers do not have this understanding and that's probably one reason why we have issues with the number of SPaD's seen. From my observations, the standard of driving and line knowledge ranges from actually very good to absolutely abysmal! I expect a rocket for going off topic. This is fascinating so I won’t send you to the Tower via Traitors’ Gate just yet but subsequent posters, feel free to get back on topic.
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Post by londonstuff on May 12, 2019 15:01:54 GMT
CBTC testing in SMA3 this weekend is seeing trains using platform 2 at Tower Hill from both directions and movements. Also Farringdon-King’s Cross, which under conventional tripcock signalling is maximum 40mph, running at 52mph under CBTC. I do believe reading on here though that the northern circle, when last resignalled, was done with 40tph throughput in mind. I suppose the question is which is more useful or practical for a central london stretch, lower speed but higher frequency, or higher speed but lower frequency. I’m not an expert at this. Is it as simple as that? Surely lower speed, although it means smaller gaps between trains means longer trips over flat junctions. Although not practical on LU most foreign services seem to favour longer gaps between trains but have super long and wide trains to scoop everyone up, presumably like Crossrail will be. I’m happy to be corrected and there’s probably 1001 other factors.
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Post by londonstuff on May 7, 2019 13:03:03 GMT
Admin comment
The thread has continued to go off track so I've moved some posts across to a new thread - Voltages across the System, linking both threads to each other by adding to the first/last comment in each thread.
I've done this pretty quickly so some other members of staff might move some other posts across to a more appropriate place imminently.
In this thread, please continute to discuss voltages, in the other, let's stick to Vivarail.
Ta, all.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 30, 2019 13:39:05 GMT
Also conveniently next door to the local police station, I see. Does this house the Met's EL (English Language) Division & its' notorious P(Pendantry)-Squad, one wonders. Arrests at Forum Socials are now at an all time low so we don't expect the Quiz Team to get their collars felt this time despite some of the more serious discrepancies creeping into the daily clues once again. Although a staff member on this Forum, and one whom you'd never suspect, recently let it slip out that they've been thrown out of this particular pub, so some might say that there's a precedent for this type of behaviour.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 29, 2019 20:37:10 GMT
I just want to say that that typo was definitely nothing to do with me in the slightest. Anyway, I’ve looked thoroughly at the original post and don’t even get what you’re talking about.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 28, 2019 21:44:44 GMT
So barriered off on the platform like at Baker St?
How long is it likely to take to get that side of the building and tracks ready. Points, tracks, electric, lift(?), refurb of the building, corridors, platform, etc.?
(Is the object which looks like a scarecrow still on that platform?)
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 26, 2019 19:01:07 GMT
Disconnected completely hence why the track bed at Mansion House still remains the original plan was the same as Tower Hill but lack of money blah blah blah You have to realise this new system CBTC does not like junctions or points hence the rationing of some sites which were rarely used. What could possibly go wrong with a railway without points or junctions? My school is great without the kids too.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 21, 2019 18:14:10 GMT
Thanks, neutron. The next step is to work out if they’ve been consistent with what they’ve said and if not, whether they’ve detailed the changes they’ve subsequently made. I rather suspect the answer to both is no. Whether that’s a good thing or not in the grand scheme of things is a different matter - ‘they’ were clearly doing things in stages with regard to weeding out the service and it was never likely that they were going to interfere with the WTT too much to accommodate exhibitions.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 21, 2019 17:47:32 GMT
The consultation report stated the following Is this a recent document or one at the time of reduction in service? Do you have a link?
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 6, 2019 10:07:19 GMT
There seems to have been a tradition in the late Victorian era to name new buildings after topical places - e.g the (Spion) Kop in Liverpool FC's stadium, named after a battle in the Boer War, and the 1878 and 1885 extensions to Waterloo station known as "Cyprus" and "Khartoum" respectively - Waterloo Bridge itself is another example of course. The sidings at Neasden were built in the 1890s, around the time of a gold-rush at the Klondyke River, on the Canadian/Alaskan border. That is absolutely fascinating - thank you (and I like your local link to the Kop after me revealing to the world yesterday that I knew Bidston quite well). 😂
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 6, 2019 9:23:04 GMT
I do and I punt with Neasden Depot / Klondyke Sidings? <Off thread alert> Where does the name Klondyke come from? I’ve Googled it and can’t see any obvious reference apart from an area in Washington, US.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 4, 2019 19:35:01 GMT
NB: The trains will so run on the Boarderlands Line into England via Neston to Bidston. At Bidston you can connect with the MerseyRail Wirral Line. Members may with to come to Merseyside for both D trains and to see the swansong of the cl507/508. Mother and Father londonstuff live literally five minutes from Bidston so seeing a reincarnated D would be well worth it
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 4, 2019 13:24:30 GMT
I think one of those is mine so I won’t comment but that station is lovely and worth a trip on its own just to see it.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 3, 2019 21:17:20 GMT
Looks like Wimbledon to me.
Edit to add: I've just noticed that if you zoom in and look closely, you can make out part of a sign that says "...bledon"!
Well spotted but I think that might have been better off left unsaid until after the answer was given tomorrow because it’s not worth anyone else even guessing after that.
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Post by londonstuff on Apr 1, 2019 23:42:09 GMT
Thanks so much for all the effort you put into this, Chris M. Even after all these years there’s still new ideas and challenges to keep us all on our toes. I’m sure the wider membership appreciate your dedication just as much. Thank you!
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Post by londonstuff on Mar 22, 2019 1:20:56 GMT
Which one are you, Whistlekiller? Note mainly to self: Back to 710s, please.
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Post by londonstuff on Mar 15, 2019 6:08:08 GMT
Chris M, had you been drinking when you came up with this?
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Post by londonstuff on Mar 13, 2019 9:56:52 GMT
Admin comment:
I can wholeheartedly say that the entire staff team: Mods, Admins and Consultants agree with what whistlekiller2000 and rincew1nd earlier in the thread have said. Words are important as they influence people’s opinions and actions.
Being aware of language and it not being used in a sexist way (or language relating to any other protected characteristic) is the way it’s going to stay here.
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Post by londonstuff on Mar 8, 2019 16:28:37 GMT
I’m pretty sure this level of detail wouldn’t be available anywhere and am astounded how it’s progressed. Just one of the reasons I think this forum is amazeballs!
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Post by londonstuff on Mar 5, 2019 15:05:58 GMT
That is super cool. Well done and please do keep us up to date with photos and descriptions.
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Post by londonstuff on Feb 25, 2019 22:41:53 GMT
I suddenly feel very old. During my 20 years as a Train Technician at Rayners Lane the Mets were A60's and had two figure running numbers. 4xx numbers were engineering trains.. An occasional delight at Rayners used to be a west to east reverser on the Picc departing the westbound platform at the same time as a Baker Street bound Met. I see what you mean about ‘an occasional delight’. How cool that would be
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Post by londonstuff on Feb 10, 2019 9:07:47 GMT
Turnham Green?
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