|
Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 22:01:43 GMT
I've seen a photo on Facebook of unit 88 on the back of a lorry at South Mimms last Friday, but that is the unit reported as being converted to a dedicated depot shunter, so may not be headed for scrap. A works vehicle ... added interest for future railway modellers!
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 21:57:56 GMT
After the Bakerloo stopped serving Watford Junction I feel sure that there was a time when the Bakerloo more or less ended at Queens Park, but then the new depot at Stonebridge Park started becoming a destination.
The enforced change at Queens Park was not liked. Especially in the winter. Off-peak BR trains were every 20 minutes and this was too infrequent to attract passengers.
The fact is that many passengers like through trains to Euston. Its the quickest way to Central London and the existing tube services to further destinations are very good. But, many other passenger prefer the one-seat solution, and for destinations served by the Bakerloo it might even be quicker than interchanging at Euston. Even if it isn't, some passengers are willing to accept longer journey duration as a price of retaining the 'one seat' solution.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 21:46:15 GMT
I watch many of them, he is making something like two a week (maybe even more?) its nice to have the time.
Actually, part of the reason why I'm not making as many films myself nowadays is that I'm updating my 'Railfanning London's Railway web pages. Hopefully these will be online at the end of this month. Also, I'm (very slowly) modelling a tube station diorama.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Dec 3, 2023 11:50:33 GMT
I thought I might add a short film to this thread - of course its on topic - I hope this is OK
1962 RAT train calls at Roding Valley - I get to peek inside part of the train.
I found it better to film the hoppers from a short distance away, rather than standing right next to the train's windows.
The leaf fall sequence was filmed from a bridge near to Newbury Park station ... it was totally unexpected (but much welcomed)
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Dec 3, 2023 11:41:06 GMT
Queen's Park would allow dedicated platform heights but loss of easy interchange, Willesden Junction would allow level interchange in both directions. Why would there be a loss of easy interchange at Queens Park? LU and LO trains already have dedicated cross-platform interchange here.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 28, 2023 12:51:22 GMT
This post link maybe links with the idea that the Bakerloo line upgrade should also be a Watford Junction branch service rationalisation. A larger fleet of 2024TS could cover a Bakerloo Euston branch service, using some of the present Overground stabling to relieve Stonebridge Park depot. This would allow level platform access at all stations served, with no mixed stock. But will tube and mainline trains be allowed to share tracks in the Euston station area? At present one pair of tracks is actually dual electrified (3rd rail and overhead wire) because they are used by both Overground and London Midland (London NorthWestern? or whatever its called today) trains. Passengers expressly want to retain through trains to Euston - some would also like through trains to Stratford!
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 28, 2023 12:42:53 GMT
Had Beeching not closed the GC route there would probably have been more BR (Chiltern etc) trains using the London Underground fast tracks, even if only for semi-fast services to Nottingham (etc) whilst the crack expresses would have continued to travel via the New North Main Line.
In the present era the planned reopening of the East - West (Oxford - Cambridge) service is just one aspect of a wider range of planned enhancements and whilst the Oxford - Cambridge services will not use any of the LUL tracks it might be that other services travel this way.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 26, 2023 23:50:55 GMT
Indeed, with all off-peak Met trains being all-stations and line speed limits lower than they used to be the present-day timetable almost negates the cost : benefit value of the funds spent four tracking Harrow - Moor Park.
It does not help that BR services no longer run beyond Aylesbury Park, but that is a different story.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 26, 2023 23:22:03 GMT
The Mersey Railway had switchable 3rd rail / 4 rail trains. The 4th rail was used when travelling in the tunnel below the river Mersey. Based on comments I vaguely recall reading I think it was the guard who moved a knife blade (return via wheels / via 4th rail) switch whilst called at Birkenhead Park station. (I'm too young to know for sure.)
I cannot imagine such an arrangement being acceptable today - but perhaps some sort of remote control switch could be devised.
As for the jointly operated service, I think that its quite simple, passengers appreciate the options. Euston is faster but Elephant trains (with their one-seat possibility) perhaps easier. Broad Street was great for the City but especially after the Great Northern Electrics started running from Highbury & Islington to Moorgate BR wanted passengers to change trains to this route and started to run down the Broad Street service. (Trains at less convenient times, often cancelled, etc)
As an aside, the service to Broad Street was quite slow. In the 1980s I often used the route from Hatch End and it took ages. I thought that at one time there were faster trains (from Tring?) but maybe they were lost when longer-distance services out of Euston were electrified.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 24, 2023 17:42:43 GMT
Maybe its me but the seat fabric design is almost psychedelic.
That said, its still far better than Barman blue and also with its London Transport Bullseye / TfL Roundel motif in the design has a hint of 1930s / 1940s seat fabrics which were (in my pov) better on the eye than some later seat fabric designs.
Alas, I did not get to see the refurbished train - I found out its timing elsewhere but I have commitments to other people and at such short notice was simply not able to leave home before midday.
However just in case it made multiple trips I did go to Hainault, and for my delight (sic) was able to watch the shuttle train departing platform 1 as my train entered platform 3. After a very long wait (much longer than usual) the next shuttle arrived but I feel sure that it was the same train that I had seen departing (it had unusual sticker mark on the cab front) and not the refurbished train.
Based on my observations I think that the Hainault Woodford shuttle has been on a 30 minute frequency using a single train - several times today when I passed through stations I saw that the electronic information boards were saying that there were severe delays on this route.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 23, 2023 22:16:04 GMT
That rumour is correct however the Forum Rules prevent specific details Hmm, full passenger service? All day... or at least until it throws a wobbly and disgraces itself (hopefully not) I might just invest in a paper ticket, go somewhere in Z1 with an island platform and hope that it passes by. I wont have a full day, but hopefully it will take (at most) only a few hours of waiting.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 21, 2023 15:52:48 GMT
More reversing capacity at Harrow & Wealdstone (reinstating second reversing bay) might be easier
The second Willesden bay has been lost to customer passenger amenities - food outlet, toilets
Which other station could have a bay (ideally centrally located) added? The proximity of the four AC tracks alongside the DC New lines makes life awkward
btw, if the second bay platform at Willesden Junction was reinstated then a better option would to rebuild the platforms to make all four of them suitable for through trains, with one each per direction dedicated to each of the services (Overground / Underground). The track heights could then be adapted to facilitate full accessibility (perhaps only at certain doors on services that use the outer pair of platforms).
Its a shame that the proximity of the AC tracks prevents more shared stations being made accessible in this way
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 20, 2023 15:09:32 GMT
we need timed trials of station departures - I bet that even through these have longer length trains they will still be faster than the trains on the also fully ATO Northern line
Piccadily and Bakerloo lines should not be included as they still have older trains, are not ATO enabled and especially in the case of the Piccadilly the trains are still derated* to prevent them from accelerating as quickly as their true design permits
*(other less kind words come to mind as well)
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 17, 2023 23:04:32 GMT
It sounds like a big media event. I wonder ... - Will the train then travel in passenger service?
- Or stay at a station for passengers to see it.
- Or even be taken away without real passengers even being allowed to see for themselves?
What makes me wonder this is the comment above by aslefshrugged about not yet having been trained on the Data Transmission System upgrade and the in-car CCTV.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 17, 2023 22:55:50 GMT
I was thinking about this the other day. Perhaps something like “we are being held by the signalling system” should be incorporated onto both automated and manual announcements on ATO lines. Would be a) simple enough for passengers to understand and b) more honest. Otherwise we could get to a point some years down the line where there isn’t a single colour light signal on the entire network yet passengers are still being told they’re being held up by a “red signal” Yes but I think that passengers would feel more comforted if they could understand the reason - rather than being given an impression that a whimsical computer has decided to delay them! When the message is given by a real human it has often referred to waiting for the train in front to leave the station. This is very easy for passengers to understand!
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 17, 2023 22:41:52 GMT
We have them on the Central line. Parallel running from North Acton to West Ruislip, West Acton to Ealing Broadway and technically at Stratford although we'd have to clear the platform to get a derailed 1992 stock onto Network Rail. I felt sure that Central line trains would need these too - for the very reasons you suggest. But, re: Stratford, the eastbound Central line platform 6 runs alongside westbound Network Rail platform 5 - there is no platform between them, just some sort of fence. I suppose that in theory derailments from things like broken rails (and other reasons I'd rather not try to think about) are possible just about anywhere, however unlikely it may seem. However there are no points (switches / turnouts) on this section of track, which rules out one of the more likely reasons.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 17, 2023 0:20:09 GMT
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 16, 2023 13:14:10 GMT
capacitors are better for fast discharge, I wish that these were at least tried here (as part of a process of discovery of best practise)
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 14, 2023 14:50:44 GMT
Sigh Over the years I've experienced the too. Only on the Northern line. Is the system run by gremlins?
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 13, 2023 14:22:31 GMT
Do drivers on the newer stock use the automated 'we are being held at a red signal' or make a manual PA? Is there a specific rule regarding this? I recall hearing this message last week, probably the delay was a crew change on the train at the eastbound platform - the train I was on was approaching Leytonstone I'll be candid, the event made such a non-impression upon me ('meh') that I cannot even recall whether the voice was male or female .. let alone whether live or pre-recorded. I was typing / keying a text message at the time and the announcement was like 'background noise'. As an aside, I regularly send a one word (the station name) text message when approaching or at Leytonstone station; its a way of saying 'I'll be home in approx x minutes'.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 13, 2023 14:04:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 12, 2023 21:43:37 GMT
The ironic thing is that apart from station starters and at junctions the Central line has more block marker boards than actual signals.
I suppose that its easier on the ear to be told that a train has stopped at a red signal whereas the message "we are being held at a block marker board awaiting the computers giving our train authority to enter the next signalling block" would not be understood by the majority of passengers.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 11, 2023 0:37:40 GMT
Mile End eastbound has an unusual style of conductor rail support piers in the suicide pit. Does anyone know why and whether any other stations have the same style of support pier? Simon
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 11, 2023 0:21:50 GMT
er em, is the line also being converted for rubber tyred trains? ... all the way to Uxbridge?? (see LTM photos of the new model trains)
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 8, 2023 0:18:01 GMT
I have long thought that the best solution for the Bakerloo line would be to replace the central area route with new tunnels. if going for new tunnels then especially for a line that inter-works with larger trains it would perhaps to make sense to use larger trains - especially ones with a higher floor level. maybe existing stations would be retained (albeit platforms rebuilt) btw, maybe the impediment that would block such a project would be funding. Would rebuilding existing stations and realigning tunnels etc be cost effective? Could an expensive project of this nature be justified / found acceptable if it was done as the optimal way to meet legal requirements for full accessibility at all stations for all trains (above ground) and tube trains at tube stations?
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 7, 2023 23:59:38 GMT
In theory the escalators and lifts at a recently rebuilt station should not need their performance boosting.
I hope this does not negatively affect the retail facilities - newsagents shop, light refreshment offerings, etc.
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 7, 2023 11:10:42 GMT
I am using Plastruct / Evergreen 1mm square strip to represent tube tunnel conductor rails. This square format is the closest I've seen to to the real thing. Its white, so will need painting, perhaps dirty black or very dark grey with a dash of black and maybe even brown too. I am yet to experiment with the paint. For your era you will not need the suicide pit. My photo shows a trial run, I've made the support pier a little too low and the conductor rail is just 1 inch long! edit to add, 11 days later: my photo was on Facebook but appears to have been deleted ... so apologies is no longer visible here
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 3, 2023 23:26:02 GMT
least disruption to other rail services?
perhaps sending it by road?
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Nov 1, 2023 12:47:58 GMT
Well I suppose that its not surprising that this is happening, as the non-motorised models have already been available to buy.
But what next?
Standard Stock? Gate Stock?
2024 tube stock?
|
|
|
-3°C
Oct 30, 2023 12:30:58 GMT
Post by spsmiler on Oct 30, 2023 12:30:58 GMT
Even though we now know about what did not happen at Hainault depot I'm not going to speculate on where / whom blame should be laid but I very much hope that there will be an investigation and the results (albeit not people's names) be made public. In the meantime, I took advantage of yesterday's lack of trains to tweet this: twitter.com/ citytransportin/status/1602416909089394688 Perhaps, from what we now know my comments were ill-informed but the photo was still appropriate for the day. Apologies for it being slightly blurred, I was probably shivering in the cold air. Just to say ... my Twitter account has been hacked and all my tweets embedded in web pages here at DD (and anywhere else I've embedded tweets) now show a different name. Many still show the correct Twitter user name in the link below them (as seen above)Edited 6th November - I'm now back online and have changed all the names back to me
|
|