|
Post by ted672 on Apr 5, 2024 10:12:42 GMT
Which brings to mind this week's Bakerloop bus proposal! The only was that could work would be to create 24/7 bus lanes along already congested roads, as has happened on the approach to Gants Hill on SL2. Voters beware the things you aren't told about when you vote!!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Mar 28, 2024 11:51:37 GMT
This saga, allowing for Covid, seems typical of how LU has muddled through over recent decades. A fully financed, total infrastructure and rolling stock upgrade is what's needed, but as long as the system remains under political control, that'll never happen. It's frustrating as an observer, it must be horrendous for those trying to keep things running.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Mar 11, 2024 16:46:36 GMT
As a slight aside, a friend recently posted a photo on another group of what may have been part of 377, which has been out of use for ages. Is it going for "Clipping" or something else? And while I'm at it, would there have been any merit in taking some of the long-term out-of-use cars for upgrading before depleting the in-service fleet?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Mar 6, 2024 17:16:38 GMT
Perhaps the time is right to consider a "brown-field" site outside the congestion zone and ULEZ. It would be great to have a London version of Beamish/East Anglian Transport Museum somewhere not too far away. The former owners of Ensignbus are looking for a new home for their collection of heritage buses, and there are various LU items that could be brought together in addition to the LTM items. Maybe I'm drifting into FRIPAS territory!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Mar 1, 2024 17:23:56 GMT
Seems I've kicked the hornets'nest! It's just that from a passenger point of view 468m of track is about the length, or part of, one section of noisy track. Looking at the spotty map, it will be many, many years before all the areas are dealt with. What puzzles me is that travelling around in the late 60s, early 70s, there was almost none of the screeching noise we're now subject too. At the risk of kicking off another discussion, is it the change to long welded rail that's a contributory factor?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Feb 27, 2024 22:10:11 GMT
Is that miles or metres? if the latter, it's not exactly an outstanding acheivement!! The latest quarterly investment committee report says a further 468m of track has been reworked in the deep tube
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Feb 19, 2024 22:11:38 GMT
I think ATO might have something to do with this. It really does wear the trains out. It accelerates the train as much as it can, and brakes as hard as it can (except for the open areas), I also believe ATO shortens the life of stock? A friend of mine who works on the Central line mentioned that the "coast code(?)" had never been implemented, so the trains maintain speed only by accellerating and braking. This must put more strain on the mechanical elements compared to manually driven trains.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Feb 15, 2024 11:10:50 GMT
It does seem odd that if you wish to travel to the Mildmay Hospital you need to use the Windrush line and not the one named after it! I think the money could have been better spent elsewhere at the moment unless someone at County Hall has won the Euromillions!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Feb 9, 2024 12:39:46 GMT
Just looking at the IanVisits article and it mentions that the development will be partially funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. I thought the purpose of that was to close the "north-south gap", or is Colindale so far north of Westminster that, in their eyes, it qualifies?
Also, the lack of replacement buses is quite surprising as Colindale serves a huge area, with Burnt Oak and Hendon Central hardly convenient. Perhaps funding was the issue?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 30, 2024 11:20:48 GMT
There's an LT Museum Hidden Hangout that visits Stockwell, here:
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 5, 2024 11:26:05 GMT
It really is a shame that there have been so many problems with these trains, the concept was truly inspirational. I can't help wondering, though, how their failure rate compares with other "new concept" trains such as the PEPs on Southern.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 2, 2024 12:16:02 GMT
As a slight aside, I recall that while at the Dist and Picc Divisional Office in 1975-6 hand oil lamps were being phased out in favour of Bardic lamps. At one stage there was a shortage and management resorted to chrome-plated torches with two or three-colour filters of the kind that could be bought at Woolworths. It was postulated that some of these would not remain in guards's bags for long. There was also the problem of supplying depots with U2 batteries (as was).
I was fortunate to have been given an unissued three-aspect oil lamp with a yellow top as a result of the changeover. Happy days!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Dec 11, 2023 11:36:01 GMT
Slightly off-topic, but it makes one wonder if there'd have been any benefit in HS2 being routed via Heathrow on its way out of London. The high-speed running would have compensated for the longer route and probably not affected the overall journey time to Birmingham compared to the current situation.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Nov 16, 2023 10:26:29 GMT
Interesting piece, however, there's a somewhat ignorant comment at the end from a Jon Smith about unions being paid to allow the refurbishment. Clealry ill informed. Maybe someone could put him right?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Oct 19, 2023 9:10:51 GMT
Except it clashes with the Croxley link, that, while not happening at the moment, has not actually been cancelled outright and is - AFAIK - still a protected route. Surely the temporary use of the link route for stabling while major work goes on elsewhere on the Bakerloo would give more protection and perhaps even reduce the cost of it, should it go ahead, as some of the work needed prior to stabling would be of benefit to the final project.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Aug 11, 2023 9:09:03 GMT
the current Holborn station will limit throughput to only 29tph. So the cost of new signalling can only be justified with a reconstructed Holborn station. What would be the reason for the limit on throughput with the current station layout? I didn't think the track layout was affected by the plans, just work on step-free access and much else away from the platforms.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jun 27, 2023 10:56:46 GMT
I'm really looking forward to it, the programme has a good level of detail to interest casual viewers and still surprise some of us hardened enthusiasts (well, me anyway). I've watched the previous series as well as the LTM "Hidden London" videos, but having recently had two authorised cab rides on the Central line I was surprised how much I hadn't previously seen or noticed on past journeys. It was also interesting to see a train operator in action which I'm sure would be of interest to the show's viewers (worth a future episode on its own?)- TOs don't just sit and push buttons!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on May 11, 2023 16:55:48 GMT
I believe that it is a deliberate decision not to label them, due to the possibility of misuse. Perhaps this incident may bring about a change of mind. Maybe LU could ask the National Rail operators how much misue they experience with their clearly labelled release handles?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on May 10, 2023 21:12:05 GMT
I noticed today when using the Northern line that while there are outside door release valves, there is no indication as to their purpose. I suspect that had there been a set of instructions as apparent on the South Westren Railway trains I also used, a clear-thinking customer may have used the valve to open a set doors an avoided the damage and some of the panic. I imagaine that internal door releases are not allowed.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Apr 4, 2023 17:20:22 GMT
Nice footage! Love the testing wrap, very cute. The wrap is probably to cover the vandalism, or make it easier to deal with another attack. The train sounds a bit like the rebuilt D stock. <<rincew1nd: One word changed to "vandalism" in accordance with forum policy.>>
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Feb 16, 2023 17:37:05 GMT
It's encouraging to learn that GWR has taken up the challenge. The potential of reusing sound bodyshells and recently overhauled bogies was huge at the time Vivarail was set up and it would be a great shame if all their work was wasted. Ok, the Marston Vale units have their problems, but these are not insurmountable and once resolved, there could still be plenty of opportunities for further unit conversions.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 31, 2023 10:06:19 GMT
I always wondered if the proposed southern extension of the Bakerloo and the new stock would be an opportunity to extend back to Watford. Somehow I'm not sure the residents of Watford and south thereof would be too keen to give up their light and airy 710s or whatever for a tube-size NTfL for a journey of that length. A bit like someone prefering the Elizabeth Line all the way to Reading instead GWR!
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jun 6, 2022 10:00:43 GMT
I noticed that while the District was suffering in the wake of this week's fire there was an automated announcement clearly added by someone who didn't pass their English exam. "There is delays..." I was amazed nobody demanded it was changed because to me it sounded as if TfL doesn't care about getting things right.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jun 1, 2022 9:27:04 GMT
So it's been a while in the making! Looks like they are working outwards from there, finishing with the end driving motor cars. I presume they will be testing a 9-car train, or will they start with a shorter version? I can't help wondering what the benefit would be of testing with a shorter train. Given that tech can be a bit touchy, seven cars may work fine, but add the extra two and, "computers says no!". I realise it worked with the class 345s, but they were much more conventional in design. While there is some urgency to get on with the job, the potential for issues after a shorter train has tested OK may mean the delay in producing and testing the full nine cars would be worth the wait.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 21, 2022 10:05:58 GMT
Yes, that is Horsted Keynes.Very cleverly shot to make it look as if they were going down to a platform that is really in the open air. The reproduction South Kensington signs are very good, probably much better than would be done today. I am also sure the car involved is No 60, LBSCR Directors Saloon, which is actually a 12-wheel vehicle.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 20, 2022 14:07:52 GMT
Mine arrived this morning and the difference is less than 2mm. When viewed from above at normal layout height, the differnce is barely noticeable. The couplings are quite close too, albeit rather fiddly to connect. Top running speed is rather slow, compared to other models,I'm not DCC,but this may improve with running in. The motors are coreless, but after some Googling I found that my Gaugemaster W controller is OK to use with it. However, the unit was not happy with my ancient Codar with simulation. It would have been nice to have supplied dummy wedgelock couplings for the ends.
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jan 19, 2022 14:02:12 GMT
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Dec 3, 2021 12:46:12 GMT
wow, some great footage, much more varied than what is possible today some also of a curiosity interest - such as crashing trains into the sand drags to see how far they will travel - and then one 'hec of a job' digging them out again!! I also noted the people standing around with live rails everywhere. I was fortunate to visit Upminster after the trials when the 38 stock was sitll there. Sarah Siddons was used to propel the unit into the sand drag. The trials came about as a result of the events at Moorgate. flic.kr/p/pFVqPp
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Nov 26, 2021 12:43:38 GMT
I've just got round to watching MetromanAlex's video on the last days of the 483s on the Isle of Wight. While watching, I noticed (again) that the shoe beams on one of the inners bogies had been removed. Can someone provide an explanation of why this was done, please?
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Nov 24, 2021 10:45:37 GMT
Misery Line? No way to board without walking along the platform? Some people don't know they are born! And "..... - but I well remember the 90's and the real jeopardy of wondering if you will get to work on time every day or even if a train will turn up at all some days! "
I travelled to school between Clapham North and Oval in the early 70s at a time when trains were shortened to six cars for some months. That was stressful!
Sorry, we're getting into the realms of Monty Python's "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch.
|
|