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Post by londonstuff on Aug 12, 2010 21:20:36 GMT
Not quite 'trains technical' but I thought this was the closest board to what I was asking. Peered over the bridge today at Boston Manor towards Northfields depot. As well as seeing the blue and yellow track recording train on one side, I could also see this on the other. However, neither my eyesight nor rolling stock knowledge is good enough to see clearly what it is. What is it and how long has it been there? I'll post better pictures on my Flickr page when I get my broadband connection back
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 12, 2010 18:25:16 GMT
One thing though, I don't tend to get intimidated, and stand firm and keep reiterating my point, but it probably isn't the best approach. I'm not easily intimidated either: I've had parents storm into my classroom screaming at me before now demanding to know why I'm 'picking on' their child, so a security jobsworth doesn't scare me So far I've found letting whoever it is finish their rant, smiling and politely explain what I'm doing the best course of action, but it is tiresome and unnecessary. I do recall someone stating at some point that the Heathrow stations are owned by BAA and they do not allow photography there. Whether that's right or not I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable. I recall hearing that too, whether it's the truth or not I don't know. I did have a bit of time before the train departed to look at the LU signs saying what to do/what not to do which were on the platform somewhere. Didn't mention anything about photography. I'm sure the man that tackled me wasn't LU though: frankly the phrase 'two short planks' comes to mind, but he'd obviously been employed to monitor 'security'. Empty vessels make the most noise and all that...
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 12, 2010 14:19:01 GMT
I've now been stopped four times over the last few weeks for taking some quick pictures at stations. The familiar line of 'photography isn't allowed' has been trotted out and one guy at Heathrow T5 was particularly intimidating and obnoxious and wanted ID (which of course I didn't supply). He then proceeded to follow me until I got to arrivals (although I'm pretty sure he was 'security' rather than LU staff. Even staff who one would think would use their common sense, e.g. when I've taken literally one or two pictures of the booking hall of a heritage station, have approached me. I've read ChrisW's advice about photography, is there anything to add to that since that was written? Essentially, they try to say that even if I'm not using flash, a tripod and am passing through a station, that photography isn't allowed. Do SA's have an absolute right to say no to photography or are they acting beyond their powers? Thanks I'm a photographer not a terrorist
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 11, 2010 21:53:17 GMT
I was at Finchley Road the other day taking a couple of photos while waiting for a Mill Hill East train. A station assistant came over and told me, essentially, to clear off. When I politely informed him (and not in a know-it-all way) that I was just passing through the station and wasn't using a flash or a tripod, which were the only rules in the Conditions of Carriage about it, he didn't want to know. Pretty rude really, but not a new thing. A similar thing happened last month by an older member of staff, who I'd hoped would have known his rules better, or at least been more tolerant, at Rayners Lane.
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 9, 2010 20:39:52 GMT
I saw the illuminated 'A' last week when I was briefly up that way. I asked a driver who said it stood for 'automatic' though I was a bit dubious at that. Is it only a signalled move northbound?
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 9, 2010 8:18:32 GMT
It will be open on 18-19 September as part of the annual London Open House weekend (as is the BT Tower, Portcullis House, Centre Point building, etc. It's essential to book for this (and they'll probably go quickly) from 10am today, 9th August. The booking page is active from 10am here. Fingers crossed - this is the only one I really really want to go to
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 6, 2010 6:14:30 GMT
Bermondsey
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 3, 2010 20:25:10 GMT
I got on train 236 (I think) this evening. Pretty sure it was car number 12019 (edited - see post below). The forced air was the best I've ever seen on a 2009 stock and really was pumping out a fair amount of not cold, but cool-ish air. This was in the evening peak too. </result>
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 1, 2010 20:16:03 GMT
Geeks are cool [speaking as one in several different departments] and whoever uses it pejoratively is mistaken. It's nerds that aren't cool - they're geeks without the social skills Don't know what your beef is deadmans
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 1, 2010 17:07:05 GMT
So while Metro is indeed influenced by LUL, I always though that Gants Hill was an evidence of (limited) reverse influence. Then again I might be brainwashed by Russian propaganda 'Nuff said? Back on topic, Richmond is absolutely lovely
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Post by londonstuff on Aug 1, 2010 14:02:30 GMT
Gants Hill (inspired by the Moscow metro architecture). I think you will find it was the other way round, and Charles Holden and his architects' team gave inspiration to the initial Moscow architectural designs (although Gants Hill itself was not done until after the Moscow system was well under way). Indeed, there was some advertising publicity about this on LU a couple of years ago saying Gants Hill had inspired the Moscow architecture.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 31, 2010 13:03:21 GMT
Just back. Photos and the odd short video posted hereThank you to those whose hard efforts made it possible today: prjb is perhaps the best known here but there are certainly many others. It's obvious from postings on here how hard everyone has worked to get a train as modern and passenger-focussed as possible. I've always thought the train looked good from the various mockups demonstrated although there have been a certain amount of knockers. The best compliments I could give you were from the children who got on the train, whose eyes widened and the sound of Wowwww clearly heard. Even the first dog on an S Stock seemed impressed and was sitting under a seat quite comfortably 'Normal' passengers seemed impressed, it was wide and cool [Victoria line take note] and once it sees regular passenger use, the doubters from Amersham, when they're not so hot and sweaty, may agree that it's a really good train
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 30, 2010 16:58:30 GMT
How many 67s are there left at Northumberland Park?
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 27, 2010 22:53:55 GMT
How many days will you be traveling? If its just one day and you don't already have an oyster card don't bother getting one as they are cheaper but rubbish and the support is frustrating. If you can afford it get a travelcard. Green Park takes ages to change from one line to another, as does Bank/Monument. Given your signature URL I don't suppose your view is entirely subjective. Although you don't like it I'm not really sure how fair (or true) it is just to say that the whole system is 'rubbish'.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 27, 2010 19:44:32 GMT
Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green Stations have the biggest gap in inner London between them I raise you Bank-Waterloo, or even Mile End-Stratford if that counts as inner KX - Farringdon surely comes close too I ran the Circle line route once in preparation for the marathon. In comparison to the rest of the Circle, Farringdon to KX is miles
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Lifts
Jul 27, 2010 19:40:30 GMT
Post by londonstuff on Jul 27, 2010 19:40:30 GMT
Can't say I'd fancy using the stairs at Covent Garden! I'd been held up somewhere on the tube when I was going to the Royal Opera House once but still just about had enough time to get there. On exiting Covent Garden however, the lifts all decided to go into a simultaneous spasm. The rule at the ROH is to basically be in your seat before the start or watch the entire thing on a plasma TV somewhere in the building having paid bucketloads for your seat. With this thought in mind, I sprinted up those 191 (I think) steps quicker than I'm ever likely to do again, ran through the piazza and in with about 40 seconds to spare. Funny what limits motivation can push you to
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 27, 2010 18:25:37 GMT
Get an Oyster card from a newsagent or one of the little blue dispensers if you can - don't end up queuing at a ticket office of a main station (Euston, King's Cross, Victoria, etc) as you'll be there forever. My brother learned this to his cost when he came down to visit me.
Also, don't feel like you've got to take the tube everywhere as most places within Central London are walkable and you come across things you'd never have discovered otherwise.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 26, 2010 9:59:56 GMT
Now I know some of you boys find these continuing accounts of weekend travel to be tedious. Whilst at work we have to answer the same questions over and over again, despite many announcements which people just don't listen to. Yes, I know we have public address overload and it galls me too, but the information is being put out nonetheless. We then have to argue with those that claim it's not (including posters, internet, radio, etc) and then suffer abuse when we still try help after such arguments. We are only the foot soldiers. We don't choose to endure such abuse or put up with continually disrupted weekends either, but we have to make the best of what the decision makers have given us to work with. Some of us do our best to explain the what's & why for's, and yet after suffering all day at work (as much if not more than you), we come on here where people are supposed to enthusiasts and a bit more knowledgeable than most and have to go through it all again. Check out Version 3.1's photo and the explanation below it - perhaps it illustrates some of the customers you've all got to put up with. </bangs head>
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 23, 2010 23:24:04 GMT
I saw it for the first time today in the middle of the Neasden flyunder with only a bit poking out, although I could see the two 'Not in Service' signs. Hope it wasn't stuck
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 23, 2010 23:20:32 GMT
Could a few of us manage to get a District Dave's forum into the record books? I'd bet Dave would be chuffed - let others run round for a full day and he get's his name into the books
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 22, 2010 17:52:09 GMT
but once you get so far with LU it gets very difficult to leave the pay and conditions you have That's exactly the same as other professions. While I enjoy being a teacher, I'd also love to do something within LU. However, being pretty much at the top of the salary scale after 10 years at the chalkface, having regular hours and the holidays too, it's something that takes a lot of beating. The call of the trains doesn't diminish though
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 21, 2010 15:11:39 GMT
There's a fair amount of video about Geoff Marshall's various attempts, including the episode of 'The Tube' here[/u][/url]
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 21, 2010 13:41:05 GMT
There was an episode of 'The Tube' about two people who tried to do it - they didn't look the fittest tbh, I seem to remember a run from Aldgate East to Aldgate to catch a Circle nearly killed them. I've run the marathon in the last few months so I'd hope to be ok with that I think it's probably all in the planning.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 21, 2010 12:05:50 GMT
It's definitely something I'd be interested in doing
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 18, 2010 11:50:29 GMT
And within hours of arrival last weekend the C Stock next to the southbound fast road had been seriously 'artistically modified'. I think they were shipped up to Wembley for stabling because of the fire at Barking. If they're in the confines of a depot next to the running line where trains, with observant drivers, pass every few minutes, how do they get to the stage where they can be 'seriously artistically modified'? I'm aware that any reply must be made with care for security concerns, giving info to the wrong people, etc. but are there no security guards/cctv who would be made aware that there were extra trains in attendance that must be kept an eye on?
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 18, 2010 11:45:26 GMT
Is there any sort of peer pressure where drivers will have a friendly word with their dawdling colleagues politely informing them they're putting them under an increased risk of SPADs, etc.?
I remember a post on here from a couple of years ago with someone recounting the fact that a Northern line driver told him how s/he never pulled up to signals for fear of spadding them herself, unaware of the fact that they were screwing up the service and putting their colleagues at an increased risk of SPADs themselves.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 18, 2010 1:59:29 GMT
As someone that's travelled from London to Liverpool on the Pendolinos more than a few times I'd say that the klaxons can be more annoying than the gits on their phones.
With regard to your problem normally a quick point to the 'Quiet Zone' logos works well, the offender normally takes his/her mobile outside into the vestibule. I find the (and it is normally) women who get into the quiet zone in twos or threes and talk for the entire journey more annoying.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 15, 2010 11:23:22 GMT
Ah well, it is only unbearable for two months a year... Have you ever been on the Victoria Line at around 9am or 5pm? Hottest. Ever.
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 13, 2010 21:13:04 GMT
neilw - the photo as your avatar looks amazing - could you post a couple more photos? It'd be brilliant to see it clearly. You could *easily* start charging for tours Is your project finished?
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Post by londonstuff on Jul 13, 2010 18:51:12 GMT
I saw one this evening, 5.15pm, Euston southbound. Set number 202, car 12021 and took a quick video of it going towards Pimlico[/u]. My thoughts since seeing it last time are: Forced air ventilation is still rubbish - it was insanely hot. I can see why Boris is going ahead (or not with the budget cuts) with the big fan things between tunnels The seats might have started to 'give' a little and we're *as* uncomfortable. The driver's announcements were inaudible regardless of speakers every metre or so - the sound was extremely muffled. Acceleration and top speed certainly didn't seem as quick. Whether they have actually been pegged back or it was just too close to the train in front as it was rush hour, I don't know. For those in the know, was this a pre-production train?
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