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Post by Admin Team on Aug 19, 2005 8:52:06 GMT
"Actually DD was invited to the first half of the celebrations, but he's driving a train instead."
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And indeed I was, as witnessed by two members of this elite forum!
Hope you had a good evening Tom and have now recovered from the hangover - I understand you were 'nobbled' by another member of this forum!
And thanks too, to the same member (and one other) for keeping me abreast of the evening's festivities.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 28, 2005 9:18:49 GMT
I believe this bloke periodically visits a number of locations around LU, though I haven't see him myself.
On the subject of bird scarers, the plastic owl at Eastcote also works well!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 28, 2005 9:24:58 GMT
Personally I don't wear any jewellery (apart from a wrist watch) but, as stated, the standards are quite well defined.
That being said, I think (in common with most matters relating to uniform) 'train side' does seem to be more relaxed than the stations, so if you're own managers don't have a problem then fine.
I'd most definitely have told the person in question to 'go forth and multiply', if I'd responded with anything more than a two fingered gesture.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 28, 2005 9:16:19 GMT
I bought a joystick set a couple of years back ((http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/chili_peanuts/joysticks.jpg As you can see in the picture there is two stations, the one you see to your left is the throttle control, it acts in the same way as a throttle on a train or plane. You push the deivce forward and you go faster, you pull it back you go slower, the joystick you see on the right is a basic joystick. So if you are pondering about which joystick to get and what is the best value for money I would recommend this (Dave or mods: I did'nt put this in the simulation forums because it's general, and there isn't a forum I can define it into) Ahh - the Saitek X45! I too use that one - great piece of kit, all fully programmable. I must admit I haven't tried it for train sims, but I know it should work fine. I think the only thing that's missing from it is a 'force feedback' type installation which I had on my previous Sidewinder joystick. If it had that, it'd be 100%!
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Post by Admin Team on Aug 21, 2005 19:57:29 GMT
on the tube is the camp comedian Julian Clary who worked as a guard at Parsons Green in the early / mid 1980 's or are there more ? WOW, I never knew that Julian Clary was a PG guard! Why am I not surprised someone like him was based at Parsons Green?! ;D *Apparently* when he was there he threw the organisation into chaos by insisting on a female uniform. The rules IIRC said a uniform must be worn, but wasn't more specific than that.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 21, 2005 19:00:20 GMT
That's a really nasty dilema you had, and I don't know which option I'd have chosen. Well done to you for your action, but Alan's post has really put it into perspective. But, final word of advice, be careful out there (as they used to say on Hill Street Blues) it's a dangerous place! Yeah, I did suffer after shock I was shaking all day and could hardly eat. I don't think my brain processed at that moment that if I put one foot wrong there would of been a hell of a mess under that train. I want my mummy What you experienced is very similar to the feelings of most drivers in similar circumstances, so perfectly natural! Hope you're feeling better.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 21, 2005 18:46:05 GMT
That's a really nasty dilema you had, and I don't know which option I'd have chosen.
Well done to you for your action, but Alan's post has really put it into perspective.
But, final word of advice, be careful out there (as they used to say on Hill Street Blues) it's a dangerous place!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 21, 2005 19:27:26 GMT
P.S. Who owns that Metronet or the other lot? As an old mate of mine worked there and I want to contact him again. Might be worth sending a PM to citysig?
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 21, 2005 18:52:08 GMT
I heard a story today about a Picc driver who kept overrunning stations and was on his final warning. "What did he do?" I hear you ask. I'll tell you what he did! He hit Wood Green too fast, threw the selector into reverse, and... ...Burnt out all four motor cars! At least he had fireworks to celebrate his final day at work . The 'old lags' will tell drivers new to a line/stock all sorts of stunts to try in such circumstances. My words to all trainees is 'if you haven't heard it from me or another Instructor, then it's not official, and that there's probably good reasons not to do it, so if you do, be it on your own head.' Shortcuts lead to accidents, accidents lead to a coroners court...........
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 21, 2005 19:25:46 GMT
Sorry Mr PP but I thinks you is mistook. Yup you're quite right, I got things mixed somewhere. Bookmark this page everyone - an admission of fault/failing memory from PP - doesn't happen oftenj (ever?). Glad the Work experience is going well - we all look forward to further accounts from northfields Depot I'm sure!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 17, 2005 20:40:38 GMT
Whilst not wishing to appear a smartarse killjoy on this thread, I've a feeling that I did report (probably 18months ago now) on the upgrade plans for the SSL's.
Browse the site and come back with comments by all means.
AFAIK these still remain in place.......
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 14, 2005 10:46:37 GMT
I *think* the reason they've stayed with the old position, rather than include then in the LED display as they've done on the 73TS for example, is that the available space on the display is already very limited, and there are some issues already about the font size of the display, and adding a number 'up there' would make it all unreadable. Although I take your point about putting them in the drivers window, from a practical point of view that'd be tricky, as the space between the back of the desk to get 'down' there is very limited. Too many opportunities for drivers to 'hurt themselves' and cry 'industrial And, in truth, there are very few occasions that do need the changing of numbers whilst in service - reforms, stock & crew's are about it, and they don't happen often enough to warrant it I guess. A thing to remember too is that the refurbs are being done quite 'minimally' as the life extension is 'relatively' short, so they've kept new kit to a minimum. As for the zeros - at the moment the number of metal plates used mean that there's a number on both sides, so the addition of a blank plate would no doubt have cost implications. As for the overall numbering philosophy - no idea. Perhaps Citysig can enlighten!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 11, 2005 16:06:33 GMT
I told the witchdoctor, I was in love with you doo doo doo doo I told the witchdoctor, I was in love with you doo doo doo doo And than the witchdoctor, he told me what to do he told me: ooh ee ooh ah ah, ting tang wallawallabingbang ooh ee ooh ah ah, ting tang wallawallabingbang ooh ee ooh ah ah, ting tang wallawallabingbang ooh ee ooh ah ah, ting tang wallawallabingbang Grrrr Tis stuck in my head... ;D You been on the funny fags again boxboy? (Call in to the D&A squad for the next time you book on!) And I think I must agree with Alan's post - this has GOT to be one of the most bizarre threads I've ever seen anywhere!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 6, 2005 15:08:19 GMT
;D ;D I'm one very happy lad! My job description came today, and since the H&S visit was passed I am going to be an engineering assistant at Northfields Depot for two weeks as of June 20th . There are a couple of things on my job description which I'm not sure about, so if anyone can offer an explanation that'd be rather good: - What is an area 'A' course? I have to pass this before the placement starts.
- This may sound a bit odd. I know I need to wear boots, but does anyone know if these are provided or do I need to buy my own? This isn't clear from the job description.
Cheers, Seth Fantastic Seth - I hope you enjoy it. I'd imagine the course is to do with safety around the depot - where you can go, what you have to watch out for, appropriate procedures etc. I'm sure someone can add more to that? As for the any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) I'm sure this will all be provided - there are quite strong standards that it must meet. I'd give them a quick phone call - I'm sure they'd be glad for you to show the initiative to ask! Dave
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 4, 2005 16:18:06 GMT
Terrific - good to know that the travelling public enjoyed themselves at least....... I suppose the only comfort 'we' can take from this is that London isn't the only place to experience this type of behaviour, but that combination of 'notable events' certainly seems destined to be a night of disasters. Or is it a Cunning Plan to concentrate all the events into a few days? Personally I'd have made sure I took the day off..... I always thought that Sweden was such a law abbiding, cultured place........
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Post by Admin Team on Aug 22, 2005 16:23:28 GMT
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 3, 2005 20:13:53 GMT
Easy one this - none.
A few stocks have the driver's cabs air conditioned though.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 3, 2005 20:31:47 GMT
Personally, my local station's West Ruislip. Takes me about 20/30 mins to get to Acton by car, or 45/50 if I go from Ickenham by Met and Picc and walk to the station (which I admit I rarely do! I know that we've couple of blokes who live in Corby (Northants). Strange thing is they live round the corner to each other. One always makes it without problems, and the other's always got 'problems'.......
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 2, 2005 19:58:43 GMT
In case you haven't notice the rather discrete notice above, ProBoards are about to upgrade this forum (in common with others they host).
Their announcement reads...
'This forum will be upgraded within the next 24 hours to ProBoards Version 4. This message board may be unavailable for between 24 and 36 hours during this upgrade. We apologize for any inconvenience. '
So, if you find a lack of service this is why.
Revisit soon!
NOTE - Although it says the upgrade will take place in the next 24 hours, on some other boards it has taken longer before the upgrade commences, so please keep checking back!
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 1, 2005 13:11:16 GMT
I presume you're talking about TfL's press release which can be read at www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/press-releases/press-releases-content.asp?prID=358Certainly there's reference to air cooling in the new Sub Surface lines trains, but air cooling and air conditioning aren't necessarily the same thing. Time will tell. Heat extraction on the SSL's is relatively simple - there's many areas where the lines are open to the 'outside' so the build up that occurs on the deep tube lines (see below) isn't the same issue. As for the deep tube lines, this is an altogether more complex problem. OK, they may technically be able to air cool the trains (and again presumably that would be in the new stocks whenever they arrive) but the problem in the deep tube sections is the dissipation of the heat once it's taken away from the trains. This builds up in the stations and tunnels and in turn leads to even more heat build up! As you'll have read from the press release they're looking at ways of improving ventilation and extraction, and this will help, but as the press release suggests by the results (or lack of) of the competition which was held it's all incredibly complex.
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Post by Admin Team on Jun 2, 2005 19:01:15 GMT
Interesting thoughts expressed.
I'm (sadly) old enough to remember BR pre (re)privatisation and always struggled with the concept of 'why will a privatised network run better than a nationalised one'. I suppose the bottom line is - as usual - cash. If there's a profit to be seen then maybe, just maybe, someone will sink an investment into it.
This of course ignores the governments (and I include all, not just the present incumbents) short term views. Until government is prepared to commit to a financial strtaegy beyond the life of a parliament this won't change, IMHO.
Citysig's comments (as usual) are thought provoking, and in my 'previous life' I used to argue essentially this point where we had 'cost centres' that were effectively billing/paying each other within the same organisation. Did it really matter? Did it improve (truthfully) performance, or productivity or whatever. I was a) never convinced and b) persuaded that it did. Perhaps that's why they were pleased to make me an offer I couldn't refuse.....
But, from my point of view, I actually started with LU on the day that the 'shadow running' as it was first called started first came in to being - so I've never known different. The main gripe I suppose I have is that too few of the office staff (lawyers, accountants and miscellaneous jobsworths) seem to have any idea what a railway actually is, and what it involves on an operational level.
Many of the top bods (including Tim O'Toole) do seem to come out - but to me there seems a gap somewhere in between.
Cross line and operational co-operation should be the norm. 'We' only exist to provide a means of movement to the population, and will gain far more by being seen to try to overcome problems than by making excuses about we can't go down that line because it's (nominally) owned by someone else. What the public see is a set of rails which they know heads in the right direction and trains - they don't care that someone else nominally owns either.
Sort the minutiae out later - in the short term move the trains, and therefore the paying passengers.
Or am I being simple here?
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Post by Admin Team on May 30, 2005 18:37:51 GMT
Had a few in my time at Thames travelling in from the leafy suburbs of Berkshire in to Paddington, but can't remember any specifically! I had Peter Snow (or is it Jon Snow? - The guy who has his 'swingometers' on the BBC during the elections) on my District train the other day. Boarded at Sloane Square, but never noticed where he got off. Michael Portillo still uses the Tube - I saw him on a Met train a few months ago, and then I saw him again boarding the same GNER train as me at Kings Cross when I went up north at the start of my hols! Hob nobbing with the Rich and Famous then Alan? I've seen several of the BBC News types at various places around the District - Andrew Marr and Shuan Ley spring to mind.
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Post by Admin Team on May 26, 2005 18:48:17 GMT
Although I didn't intend this site to be used for scenarios such as this, I've decided to let members vote with their feet.....
I've added a new area to the 'Other Stuff' section.
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Post by Admin Team on May 24, 2005 7:48:00 GMT
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Post by Admin Team on May 22, 2005 19:34:03 GMT
Strange winds? That's probably due to the driver having had too many baked beans with his grub! My understanding is (from my limited knowledge of those nasty deep tube lines) is that it's the piston in cylinder effect of the tube stocks pushing air along in front of them that causes the rushes of air. Much of the heat is generated by the resistance equipment in te trains - including the brakes etc. Water is a combination of the leaks in the water mains and the seepages through poorly pointed brickwork. As to the point about 'suits' running around as if there will never be another train - who knows! I chat to the tourists often whilst waiting to pick up, and if they don't know the Underground, most marvel at a two minute service. But to the daily commuters, a three minute wait is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO inconvenient!
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Post by Admin Team on May 22, 2005 19:06:50 GMT
Edgware Road (Met) has loads of character, and again hasn't been messed about too much. It is interesting operationally as well, with reversing Wimblewares. I suppose it's a bit dull if you don't like C-stock ;D David - whilst I concur with your idea of character and it's lack of 'messing about with', (not to metion that if you look closely you can still see the coaling point just outside the station) the issues I'd take are that the level of 'customer service' there is, frankly, appaling. To the every day 'punter' it's bad enough, but to the tourist (and you get a lot round there) it's a confusing nightmare! I've taken issue before about the lack of station staff at platform level - trying to change ends there is a nightmare - confusion he reigns!
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Post by Admin Team on May 22, 2005 20:15:46 GMT
If one were to pick at the detail there's a few details there that I would take minor issue with, but it'd be nit picking really. In essence it's a sensible and thought provoking item - and - if anything sums it up for me - it'd be P.9, the reference to the 'Thatcher Years'. Many of you will know (or will have guessed by know) that I'm not Maggie's Greatest Fan BUT (plays devil's advocate) as the piece suggests, the engineering, design and manufacturing skills needed have now (mostly) left this country so - at least from the equipment point of view) what's the option? Attitudes, 'customer' orientation, accountants priorities are things that (perhaps) can be challenged and addressed, but is there the will to do that? Generally, passengers (and I still prefer that word) want a train/bus/ that goes 'there' NOW - three/five/ten minutes is too long. As I say - attitudes. The 'cafe Latte society' phrase about sums it up - we don't even have an indigineous beverage these days (mine's a double Expresso by the way)......
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Post by Admin Team on Aug 12, 2005 19:47:18 GMT
Oh yes. "Oim sorry to have to tell yo that the next train for Coventry has just gone! If yo want to catch the next one oil aks the signalman if it's running" Or the idea I personally think would be good... A selection of voices and/or announcements depending on time of day and/or location. Let's be honest at some times the announcer could say 'please jump down on the track and stick your tongue on the middle rail' and no-one would notice. A bit like when at Monument e/b and are reversing at Tower Hill. You tell 'them' to change if going past Tower Hill. On arrival at Tower Hill you try to change ends. Need I say more
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Post by Admin Team on May 22, 2005 20:16:54 GMT
Well, can I cheat, use the diagram of Acton Town on your site and say that only 21RD can be used by District drivers seeking to reverse off the w/b local, with a move to depot requiring a wrong-direction shunt via No.66 crossover, reading up to WL99? Or should I wait? ;D ;D ; D Shhuusshh
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Post by Admin Team on May 22, 2005 19:21:27 GMT
The last time I can recall Northfields being used by a D stock was the great power failure of August 2003. We also have up to four sidings at Acton for emergency use which do not require a pilot - whereas a trip to Northfields would require a pilot, so it's really a case of what is easier at the time. So, Sorry MA, I think i'll have pull you up here and say it's only used as an absoloute, no other way round it, desparate alternative - and is not as routine as you suggest. *Puts Adjuicators Hat On* I think I'll put this as a 'score draw'! Although both Colin and MA are correct there's a reluctance to use either Acton East sidings or Northfields if it can possily be avoided, though Act East probably just colours the result as District drivers *should* be fully familiar with them and not need a pilot. BUT (question for both Colin and MA!) if there is a train approaching Acton Town W/B local CAN it reverse into Acton East sidings, and then go to Depot? Or if Ealing Common (and beyond) is unavailable must it use Northfields to reverse? Books out lads!
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