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Post by spsmiler on Feb 6, 2024 23:13:28 GMT
Bridges were built on that route to replace level crossings - as someone else said, especially in the rush hour the crossing would be closed more than open.
Especially because crossing are closed for far longer than is needed for a train to actually traverse it. It is seen as acceptable to delay road users (including bus passengers) for 2 - 3 minutes before the train actually arrives at the crossing. Reduce this time to something more realistic and for quieter branch lines a crossing would be more acceptable to road users ... but that cannot apply here as the Epping branch is a busy branch line.
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 6, 2024 20:21:57 GMT
I had a rail only day saver
It was very difficult at Bidston. Not just with the rain on my camera lens but two 230 trains at the same time - I did not know which way to point my camera as the island platform was too wide for decent views of them both at the same time!
Then the guard of the train enterimg service said I had 2 minutes if I wanted to look inside .... I took up her offer!
Afterwards i was just about able to get to see blue grey 507001 on the Northern line to Southport.
Photos to vome, most likely Wednesday as I am still on the Avanti train to Euston and its running late after a long station stop at Crewe
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 5, 2024 23:42:02 GMT
Seen by chance at Shepherds Bush WLL and then again at Hackney Wick.
I was not able to film the entire train and do not know what to call this - Diversity Design? Inclusivity Design?
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 5, 2024 23:34:32 GMT
Shock horror, I got to ride in one - my first 710/3
(For many months, even several years, I've travelled on 710/1 and 710/2 trains on other Overground routes but today was my first 5 car North London Line 710)
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 5, 2024 23:28:12 GMT
Oh good, as I'll be visiting Bidston tomorrow (6th Feb) and hope to see at least one there. Not sure if I'll get a ride in it however, as my Merseyrail ticket wont be valid.
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 5, 2024 23:23:42 GMT
I might yet make a YouTube film about the closed bridge - if I do it will suggest that if the bridge is a danger to road traffic then what about rail traffic?
Will a lump of concrete have to fall onto the tracks (or even a moving train in passenger service) to get this bridge either repaired or replaced?
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Post by spsmiler on Feb 5, 2024 23:18:44 GMT
This tweet includes the Overgound extension from Barking Riverside - something that I was told would be impossible as the station is too low for a bridge over the Thames and too high for a tunnel below the Thames.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 31, 2024 10:46:35 GMT
In the meantime, as we know, things have not been going well for the 230's in Wales. However when looking at Bidston station on Real Time Trains yesterday I saw information suggesting that at least two 230's had been running (that was Tuesday 30th Jan 2024)
This is very relevant for me as I've booked a day trip to Merseyside next week and whilst there am planning to visit Bidston in the hope of at least seeing a 230.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 29, 2024 21:53:03 GMT
Today I used a station that I've never used before - Stockwell. Its not a part of London I have any need to visit but I was curious because the station was more or less completely rebuilt for the Victoria line and I was wondering if any of the older 1920s tiling still remained. So whilst passing through I stopped to explore.
Whilst on the escalator up from southbound platforms to the ticket hall I experienced something that is in the 'a blast from the past' category.
A slow handrail (ie: the handrail was moving more slowly than the steps). Several times I had to briefly let go.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 29, 2024 21:45:12 GMT
I noticed today on north Overground trains that they were still saying that 'due to a short platform' the doors in the rear car will not open and passengers should move forwards inside the train - even though the doors did open!
This was at Surrey Quays and Canada Water.
To be fair however, at Canada Water only one pair of doors stayed closed, and the initial message saying that the doors would not open was more generic than about any particular set of doors.
Maybe I'm 'late to the party' in noticing this, however I'm normally at the front of the train - where all doors do open!
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 25, 2024 11:04:26 GMT
The new version is now live at Woolwich. Is it at all doorways or does it alternate with the older / original version?
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 24, 2024 21:39:43 GMT
Thanks - so hopefully this will be used more often - but not everywhere / instead of the scrolling line version.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 24, 2024 21:36:37 GMT
Are these trains worse for this than the 378's - and other sliding door trains? (eg: 315s)??
Could the plug type doors be a factor? If so, is the Elizabeth line similarly afflicted?
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 24, 2024 21:31:27 GMT
Ofcourse hindsight is a great thing but I do really think with some structured planning and adequate funding, TFL really should have considered replacing the 72ts, the 73ts and the 92ts at the same time with one single order, benefiting from the "bulk" saving principle. I dont know how long previous central line fleets have lasted but I think (especially given todays intense service demands compared to yesteryear), that 30-35 years should be the expected lifespan of a central line fleet given how intensely worked any fleet would be on the line. Bare in mind that the 62ts before that (which did not need to meet as much of an intense service level), were replaced in after 33 years. I dont know what is to come but at some point both this fleet and the bakerloo will need to be replaced, and ultimately, kicking the can down the road will only result in more money having to be spent for both the short run and long run. I think that they might well have wanted to do this ... one word explains why it has proven impossible money (ie: lack of funding)
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 23, 2024 12:16:38 GMT
Seen a few days ago - large stickers partially blocking the view through the glass on some Class 710 passenger door windows (only some - not all windows). This photo was taken at Leytonstone High Road. The message on the stickers is Take Care Closing Doors. Beyond what is seen in my tweet and I say in this message I have no idea whether these are experimental, will also appear on Class 378 train doors, etc. x.com/citytransportin/status/1745151557568491560x.com /citytransportin/status/1745151557568491560?s=20
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 23, 2024 12:07:49 GMT
The trial was supposed to have ended in October - my photo dates from this month, January 2024.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 22, 2024 15:03:07 GMT
As we know, the passenger information screens (PIS) are above the platform doors.
Last Thursday I saw some of the displays showing information in a format that I've not seen before:
Alternate PIS displays showed this format and information in the more traditional format.
PS: Message edited in February 2024 because I've found a way to get Tweets to parse so that they are visible
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 22, 2024 14:56:27 GMT
I wonder ... is that a staff training train, a Parliamentary train or a service to prove that some sections of track are used by LO as otherwise they might cease being available for LO services?
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 21, 2024 13:38:07 GMT
Every once in a while an event is encountered that was not planned - but is still of sufficient interest to warrant filming.
Whilst on my way home last Thursday I encountered a London Overground train at Stratford station's platform No. 11 - normally Overground trains call at platforms 1 and 2, so seeing one calling at this platform is something I thought might be of interest.
As an aside, I knew that they can also go to 10a, but not 11
Hence this very short film
Enjoy,
Simon
Rare Track - London Overground Train Departs From Platform 11 At Stratford Station London
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 21, 2024 1:15:44 GMT
The Romford - Emerson Park - Upminster line might become:
Rup, Rominster, Upford - or, for clarity, Emerson or Park
Wykeham will be a tongue twister for some people
I also thought of more fun names - shuttle (because its almost a short shuttle line) or Tennis (green fields, three stations somewhat like two players a net in the middle)
I then ruled out Shuttle because perhaps it can be confusing, eg: if ever the line runs a shuttle service between just two of its stations...
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 15, 2024 15:15:10 GMT
Regardless of the result, people will dislike the names. Too short, too long, not local, too technical, not diverse, too woke, etc. It's impossible to please everyone. I think I'll just be happy if we have names, Goblin or not. So February it is ... as an aside, this year (2024) is a leap year - so they have an extra day to share the information with everyone. I'll be peeved if both Goblin and Brunel are not included. I'll be astonished if Harlequin *is* included (again).
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 14, 2024 14:16:19 GMT
I'm 64 and am beginning to wonder ... will I live long enough to see the new names announced?
Or is it that the chosen names will be so contentious that we will not learn them until after this year's London Mayoral elections - in case this issue affects how people vote? I desperately hope not!
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 14, 2024 14:07:39 GMT
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 13, 2024 20:20:13 GMT
Sorry, not me.
I only have a little silent super 8 footage of 1938 trains
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 13, 2024 20:04:39 GMT
Going back to the early 1980s there used to be one morning peak working from Watford Junction to Broad Street via Hampstead Heath instead of the usual Primrose Hill routeing. This route via Hampstead Heath was headcode B3, I believe. The advantage of this specific train was that it filled a gap in the normally every 20 minute service between Richmond and Broad Street. Therefore morning commuters heading for the City had three trains each 10 minutes apart. At one time trains via Hampstead Heath were more frequent and some Broad Street - Croxley Green through trains might have even run via Hampstead Heath. ------------------------------ As for the service this morning, eek and yikes. Fortunately (for me) I did not try to travel on any of these trains.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 11, 2024 17:56:21 GMT
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 9, 2024 15:06:33 GMT
Their closing is very sad - I understand that the business is still profitable, so at least its an ordered closure rather than a sudden shut down involving receivership and administrators.
In recent years I've made several purchases from Hattons, some of which included tube trains.
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 9, 2024 14:59:18 GMT
LOL, well they could not question the parentage of the trains, as that *is* known!
I wonder whether the fine choice of words was also in response to a suggestion that these trains extend their sphere of operation to include Merseyrail tunnels, whilst travelling 484 mode?
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 7, 2024 13:49:22 GMT
A busy road bridge over the Central line along Broadmead Road in Woodford failed a safety check and had to be closed as a matter of urgency. Lineside areas below the bridge were also closed, because of the risk of falling debris. Given this risk to parked cars and pedestrians on either side of the railway its a wonder that Central line trains are still allowed to pass below that bridge! btw, the bridge needs replacing but the local council (LB Redbridge) does not have the funds to do this. www.redbridge.gov.uk/news/september-2023/broadmead-road-update-monday-2-october-2023/
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Post by spsmiler on Jan 4, 2024 12:06:25 GMT
I was reading about the Class 230s in Wales.
Not happy reading.
Things are not going well - out of five units only one is available for use (today) but it cannot be allowed out because if it fails there will be nothing that can rescue it.
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