Peterborough North

[The Stationmaster]

He did WHAT????

 

I know - can't be helped as he probably made a few quid out of it.

 

Sorry to go O/T

[great northern]

The C12 has got out of the way, and 61282 has coupled up, and waits for the off. As you know, little things can please me out of all proportion to their worth, and I can't help a slight glow knowing that this engine did haul this train most of the time in the summer of 58.

Shortly afterwards, 60533 finishes its prolonged stop, and strikes out on the last lap of its journey to Grantham.

[great northern]

Still nothing much happening, so the camera focuses on the surroundings again.

That ancient GN coach gets a look in. The camera then swings round to capture a view looking South.

Having changed film first, of course.

[allan downes]

I don't usually have anything useful to contribute, but I can help on what a 'Fingall' is. It's a fair haired foreigner, usually a Norseman, as distinct from a Dougal / Doyle / Dowell which is a dark haired foreigner, a Dane. Fingal's Cave is on the Isle of Staffa in the Inner Hebrides, while the Fingal Plain is north of Dublin city.

 

On second thoughts, of absolutely no use to a railway modeller, but it is what it is. Latter day Vikings, arriving at Newcastle, have better transport options for reaching London.

 

I like the little Ivatt tank.

 

Alan

 

The Shadows also dedicated an instrumental to one of them, namely "The Rise And Fall Of Fingall Blunt". Reasonably easy to play with a pig of a middle eight.

 

Allan

Edited May 30, 2017 by allan downes

[great northern]

A blissful hour and a bit with headphones on, volume up and Tommy in full. I feel better now, so how about another picture with nothing going on?

Actually there is something going on - the last three Grantham coaches are on their way out of Platform 6.

And a couple of minutes later 61282 is off on its way to London.

[mullie]

The power of music, so often under estimated. I too have operated my layout tonight to the sound music. Tonight it was something contemporary (Hozier and Noah and the Whale) though earlier today whilst working; I re lived my 80s youth with music by Bruce Hornsby and Peter Gabriel. 

[great northern]

The B1 has got just a little further this morning.

and there is even time to send another load of coal through after it has finally gone.

[Liam]

Gilbert, I hope that Thompson coach isn't a runaway!

[great northern]

Gilbert, I hope that Thompson coach isn't a runaway.

No. It was very carefully placed there.

[glo41f]

Well the inspirational pictures just keep coming do they not?  What a pleasure it is to be transported back to what I and many here would say were the good old days (but I accept that this was not the case in reality). I just lose myself looking at the wonderful images and recalling those times. The recent weathered locos are just stunning and so realistic. You really spoil us Gilbert!

 

Thank you

 

Martin Long

[Liam]

No. It was very carefully placed there.

So it was on its own obstructing the main line? The signalman needs a talking to for potentially causing a disaster.

 

But in 1967 at Conington (somewhere between Peterborough and Stevenage) a Deltic hauling an Edinburgh bound express was derailed along with most of the coaches after the points were unlocked and changed while the express was rushing over, caused by a 20 year old signalman who was discharged from the Marines (or was it the navy?) with 'hysteria and immature personality'. At least five people died as a result of the crash.

 

It led to all candidates for safety critical roles (in particular signalling) being properly examined (medical wise as well).

[great northern]

So it was on its own obstructing the main line? The signalman needs a talking to for potentially causing a disaster.

 

But in 1967 at Conington (somewhere between Peterborough and Stevenage) a Deltic hauling an Edinburgh bound express was derailed along with most of the coaches after the points were unlocked and changed while the express was rushing over, caused by a 20 year old signalman who was discharged from the Marines (or was it the navy?) with 'hysteria and immature personality'. At least five people died as a result of the crash.

 

It led to all candidates for safety critical roles (in particular signalling) being properly examined (medical wise as well).

But how do you know there aren't more carriages out of sight? And even if there aren't, it could quite properly be left there during a shunting move.

[great northern]

Just more Austerity tonight, I'm afraid.

[Clive Mortimore]

The Cravens were intended to operate the long-distance cross-country routes of the M&GN. Yarmouth-Birmingham is not a short route.

 

But after they were ordered a decision was taken to close most of the M&GN routes instead. Which is why so many surplus Cravens ended-up operating commuter routes out of King's Cross, routes for which they were wildly unsuitable.

 

Paul

Hi Paul

 

I get fed up with reading and hearing that the Cravens were ordered for the M&GN lines. More Cravens coaches were ordered than coaches ever ran on the M&GN, even BR in its most stupid days would not have expected a tripling (or greater) of the number of passengers on the M&GN. And if you check the dates, the batch of Cravens that were used for large parts of East Anglia and the Kings Cross suburban services were ordered after the announcement of the closure of the M&GN.

 

Why were so many fitted with London Transport trip cock gear from new if they were intended to amble along a single line from Bourne to Melton Constable? They were ordered for the outer suburban services from Kings Cross and for the GER lines outside of the then London commuter belt, which alone totaled far more services than on the M&GN.

 

Admittedly they were only supposed to be a stop gap between the end of steam and the introduction of new EMU trains on the suburban services when the line to Doncaster was to be energised in the early sixties. The Class 85s and 309s were intended for this electrification program. In the end they had to wait until 1977 before being moved away from the commuter belt.

Edited June 1, 2017 by Clive Mortimore

[Market65]

Hi. Same here regarding the Cravens units. The first batch went to Hull for NER of BR East Yorkshire services. They had four lamp cab ends. So nowhere near the former M&GN.

 

Best regards,

 

Rob.

[great northern]

The sound of the WD and its wagons having faded into the distance, the stage is set for the next Up express. This is the 9.47am Newcastle, a relief to the main 1000am train. It has changed engines at Grantham, and that shed's A3 Victor Wild is in charge fo rthe rest of the journey to London.

The relief does not stop here, though the main train does.

[chris p bacon]

The Shadows also dedicated an instrumental to one of them, namely "The Rise And Fall Of Fingall Blunt". Reasonably easy to play with a pig of a middle eight.

 

Allan

I know have an image of you in my head doing the "Shadows dance steps"...................nurse......

[The Stationmaster]

So it was on its own obstructing the main line? The signalman needs a talking to for potentially causing a disaster.

 

But in 1967 at Conington (somewhere between Peterborough and Stevenage) a Deltic hauling an Edinburgh bound express was derailed along with most of the coaches after the points were unlocked and changed while the express was rushing over, caused by a 20 year old signalman who was discharged from the Marines (or was it the navy?) with 'hysteria and immature personality'. At least five people died as a result of the crash.

 

It led to all candidates for safety critical roles (in particular signalling) being properly examined (medical wise as well).

 

Sorry but even it it was on its own why shouldn't it legitimately be where it is?  Perfectly permissible under the Regulations (provided it has or is attached to something which has a handbrake) let alone being part of a train or shunting movement on an opposite line.

 

Incidentally there were no changes to any examination procedures (including medical) following the Connington incident.  Medical information from previous employers and even GPs etc could only be obtained with the written permission of the individual concerned so even if the Railway MO suspected something he could only get information from other medical practitioners with the person's permission.  The alternative would be to fail them if they did not reach the required standard - and that applied to all staff, not just those in what are nowadays called 'safety critical' roles.

 

Sorry (yet again) to go a touch O/T.

[Liam]

Sorry but even it it was on its own why shouldn't it legitimately be where it is?  Perfectly permissible under the Regulations (provided it has or is attached to something which has a handbrake) let alone being part of a train or shunting movement on an opposite line.

 

Incidentally there were no changes to any examination procedures (including medical) following the Connington incident.  Medical information from previous employers and even GPs etc could only be obtained with the written permission of the individual concerned so even if the Railway MO suspected something he could only get information from other medical practitioners with the person's permission.  The alternative would be to fail them if they did not reach the required standard - and that applied to all staff, not just those in what are nowadays called 'safety critical' roles.

 

Sorry (yet again) to go a touch O/T.

I'm not saying it shouldn't be there, I'm just saying if it was on its own obstructing the main running lines with an intense timetable like PN there could be a disaster. Probably best if we exhaust the matter.

 

Mike the article was in the March edition of The Railway Magazine.

[great northern]

Just the classic view from the end of Platform 3 tonight, as Victor Wild approaches.

Can't kkep my eyes open, for some reason, so off to bed.

[great northern]

I seem to have taken some rather uninspiring photos lately. The next one falls into that category too, 60105 again, rear three quarter view.

Then I photographed the train, as I tend to do when quite a lot of fiddling has been needed to set it up. This is the Friday only formation of the 9.47 Newcastle. Other formations are available, depending on which day of the week it is.

A nice mixture of Gresley, Thompson and MK1 vehicles, which appeals to me.

[great northern]

Something nice as the evening comes to a close? A J6 meanders along the engine road, and will head for Holme, and thence to the Ramsey branch.

Lovely side on view, somehow elegant in a rugged sort of way. Tender first, by the way, probably preferred by the crew to coming back later that way round with a load behind.

[great northern]

When a relief has appeared, the main train should not be far behind, and it isn't. The 1000am Up Newcastle rests at Platform 2, Sir Walter Scott in charge today. Not often seen this far South, so there should be some happy spotters.

Our second photographer also focused on 60143, but from his position in the bushes.

[trw1089]

An A3 with an interesting formation, then a J6 followed by an A1, is that as near as perfection can be?

[figworthy]

Our second photographer also focused on 60143, but from his position in the bushes.

143 2.JPG

 

I think the greenery on this one adds quite a bit to the picture.

 

 

Adrian