Early Risers.

[beast66606]

Bravo to the Highways chaps for keeping the traffic flowing. Network Rail did I hear?

 

Can we leave that out of here - you've had your say elsewhere

[The Stationmaster]

Network Rail did I hear?

Doing quite well it would seem - 1 train cancelled from KX (to Kings Lynn) today and several long distance departures late (all appear to be off inwards balances) with several over 10 minutes.

 

Reading GWML and locals - site of major ongoing work plus work in towards Paddington - 2 trains over over 10 minutes late (13 minutes being the worst) plus 3/4 between 5 & 10 minutes late, a couple 1 or two minutes late, everything else RT or early.

 

Stafford, so WCML and cross-country - 3 trains over 15 minutes late (worst was 20 late), a couple of others over 10 late and one or two between 5 & 10 late - rest on time or early.

 

That's from 06.00 this morning in all cases - definitely sounds better than the performance on some trunk roads (such as the 90 minute delay to your journey).  Will there be demands for an inquiry into the management by DafT of our trunk road network during today and yesterday with journey times extended by 90 minutes?  Oops, squadron of Gloucester Old Spots passing overhead.

 

The Southern half of England is very problematic, and I have the wisdom of an upstate New York roads department specialist to thank for this insight. Other than the occasional giant economy size quantity long duration dump of the white stuff - of which 62-63 was the most recent example - we don't get huge quantities and/or long lying snow. What we typically get is what North Americans would consider thaw conditions. Relatively small quantity of snow, which does quite a lot of melting before it settles, then melts and refreezes once or twice before it is gone. As he put it, 'those are the conditions that cause the majority of the winter accidents in my part of the world, because it is so unpredictable, and you cannot fit a tyre to suit the conditions either'. (What makes it yet worse in Southern England is that a large proportion of those driving have no experience of these conditions, through very little opportunity to learn, because snow is infrequent.)

 

When it does snow, salt and ploughing on major routes to keep essential traffic flowing and wait for the rest to melt is the sensible response. Stay off the roads unless you are an essential service provider. The investment required for really efficient clearance is disproportionate: I reckon the equipment would stand idle seven years in ten. Better to just accept the small hiatus in activity and resume when the roads are clear enough, two to three days usually.

Many years ago Berkshire Council bought a snow blower attachment to be used in place of the front bucket on one of my uncle's JCBs as he was a regular snow clearance contractor for them.  Every year it was dully attached and tested by him then taken off to wait the call while he carried on his usual business - I forget how long he had it for before it rusted pieces but I think in the whole of the time he had it, 10 years or more, it was only used once and then only for a couple of days.

[station cat]

Now I'm over the three score and ten, I worry more about a fall and the chances of a broken hip, and the more uncertain one is, the greater the chance of that. 

Forty years ago, I tried out a new pair of Adidas cross-country shoes in a race through a foot of snow on the hills of Falkirk's Callendar Park. Seven long spikes screwed into each sole and studs on the heels, and Wow! they lent wings to my feet! Easily my best run in an East of Scotland league race. Mind you, I'm not sure how high my self-confidence would have been if I'd realised during the race that I'd lost several spikes out of each shoe...

So, I'm hoping that today's purchase will make me happier about facing the icy slopes of North Sheffield.

 

shoe spikes.jpg

 

 

I got some of those (well something very similar rather than that exact version). They're great - massive reduction in slips.

[trisonic]

Yep, they don’t bother plowing here unless the snow is over 2”. Up to that point it is Salt and Grit (unless the temperature is less than 20f when that has no effect).

Salt and Grit (laid down early) should be sufficient for 90% of the snowfalls in England.

 

The “landowner” is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalk (if any) outside of his property. Failing to do so would make him liable to Fines from the Council (or being sued for any injuries caused by NOT doing so). Luckily there is no sidewalk outside my place.

 

Best, Pete.

Edited December 28, 2014 by trisonic

[roundhouse]

A long day working on Star Lane today. Finished later than planned as was supposed to be meeting ex work collegues in London but  being later and quite a few trains cancelled due to staff shortages so not now worth it as they will be heading home about 8pm.

 

So its now a beer free day and will now be working on stock boxes for the Czech rolling stock.

 

Tomorrow will be a trip to Banbury, fingers crossed.

[BoD]

Evening all

 

I'm busy on the desktop computer and laptop at the same time - clever eh?  Who said us blokes don't multitask.  So .....

Keyboards -  the big one by itself - desktop - the smaller one fixed to the top of the laptop - laptop - simples.

Mice - two wireless mice -  erm - 50/50 chance of trying to move the cursor with the wrong mouse.

Ok, they were correct about us not being able to multitask efficiently.

 

Off to the eye infirmary tomorrow to see the consultant about my right eye no longer being able to focus correctly.  Looks like a cataract op looming. 

[AndyB]

Continuing my theme of being first with the latest thing....   .... I found this clip of a Christmas-themed train over in north America. The video only has 9469 views so far. So, not everyone on RMweb can have seen it!

 

Meantime I've been researching railways around Middlesbrough using Google maps etc.

Clearly they do things differently "up north"?! 

 

 

 

 

[Ian Hargrave]

Doing quite well it would seem - 1 train cancelled from KX (to Kings Lynn) today and several long distance departures late (all appear to be off inwards balances) with several over 10 minutes.

 

Reading GWML and locals - site of major ongoing work plus work in towards Paddington - 2 trains over over 10 minutes late (13 minutes being the worst) plus 3/4 between 5 & 10 minutes late, a couple 1 or two minutes late, everything else RT or early.

 

Stafford, so WCML and cross-country - 3 trains over 15 minutes late (worst was 20 late), a couple of others over 10 late and one or two between 5 & 10 late - rest on time or early.

 

That's from 06.00 this morning in all cases - definitely sounds better than the performance on some trunk roads (such as the 90 minute delay to your journey).  Will there be demands for an inquiry into the management by DafT of our trunk road network during today and yesterday with journey times extended by 90 minutes?  Oops, squadron of Gloucester Old Spots passing overhead.

 

 

Many years ago Berkshire Council bought a snow blower attachment to be used in place of the front bucket on one of my uncle's JCBs as he was a regular snow clearance contractor for them.  Every year it was dully attached and tested by him then taken off to wait the call while he carried on his usual business - I forget how long he had it for before it rusted pieces but I think in the whole of the time he had it, 10 years or more, it was only used once and then only for a couple of days.

The delay was caused by a sheer volume of traffic.

[Ian Hargrave]

Can we leave that out of here - you've had your say elsewhere

Sorry if you find that uncomfortable.

[PhilJ W]

Continuing my theme of being first with the latest thing....   .... I found this clip of a Christmas-themed train over in north America. The video only has 9469 views so far. So, not everyone on RMweb can have seen it!

 

Meantime I've been researching railways around Middlesbrough using Google maps etc.

Clearly they do things differently "up north"?! 

 

 

level crossing 1.JPG

 

level crossing 2.JPG

I can think of several lines over here where a 'Holiday train' could be run, not only heritage lines but some Network Rail lines as well.

[BoD]

Don't worry Ian H - there are lots of posts here that I don't understand either.

 

Come to think of it ...................................

[Oldddudders]

Found on Facebook

 

https://scontent-a-cdg.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/553310_390749614418720_2147260827870361434_n.jpg?oh=5106365cab2e5ff666d6344b9db65f2a&oe=553060D0

[andyram]

It occurred to me Andy - just that it all seems rather different from the days when I was at school.  Oddly the vast majority of children normally managed to get there - whatever the weather conditions if they happened to live with a couple of miles, which was of course a walkable distance.  However only one had to contend with flooding (his father was the Lock Keeper and they lived in the Lock Keeper's cottage) and at times of bad flooding on the river his dad rowed him to the nearest dry ground and he then only had either a mile or so to walk or, if landed on the opposite bank, a 'bus ride into town.

 

Those of us who were there obviously remember the 1962/63 winter as being exceptional but - as usual then (and not much different nowadays) any council snow clearing effort in our road only came about a month after the stuff fell in quantity and none of the roads (back then) leading down the hill into town, or indeed up another hill to school, were treated with salt or cleared of snow and ice either, we simply got on with it because we had to.

 

Even back in infants school days one or two teachers did not live locally but I remember one - who lived well off the main road about 5 miles from town - who seemed to be able to get to school every day whatever the weather provided either the 'buses were running or a neighbour gave her a (rare) lift.  By secondary school days we probably had more teachers living out of town but they too seemed to manage to get to work albeit late or via very circuitous routes.  Compared with back then, and it is over 40 years since I left school, I get the impression that schools seem to be far more liable to close at the drop of a hat than they did; as I said my secondary school closed for a week in 1963 (due to snow on country roads) and that's the only school closure I can remember due to bad weather - they never closed because the heating had packed up or there was snow and ice on the roads (as was often the case in winter).  And of course we thought nothing, except in bad rain, of walking a mile or more to school while nowadays we see (regularly round here) folk driving their offspring to school over much shorter distances.  However it was also a considerably less litigious society back then so if you slipped over on snow or ice it was regarded as your own silly fault (which in reality is still the case of course).

 

All good practice for work as it happened - spending a night steam lancing points in temperatures of -10C is hardly a picnic but it's the sort of thing we sometimes had to do in order to keep trains running the next day (gas point heaters don't work under heavy snow).

 

I agree that some schools do seem to close at the drop of a hat. We have often been the only school in our area that has opened on bad weather days. Our staff always make every effort to get in.

Of course the days you refer to are before the Health and Safety era. Mind you regular gritting would help. Snow was expected here in Derby on Boxing day yet main roads were not treated and many roads were lethal. I managed to rescue the car from two nasty skids whilst travelling to and from the in-laws. Not good for the nerves after a recent ice related road traffic accident.

[beast66606]

Sorry if you find that uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable is not the word - stop stirring trouble here, you've annoyed enough professionals as it is

[newbryford]

Up early-ish to clean up at wife's work (see previous posts on the subject) then supposed to be taking part in an organised 36 mile road ride starting at 10am. As the intended route is mostly of rural nature, I would expect the roads to be dodgy to say the least.

I'm (sort of) hoping that I get a text about 8am saying that the ride's been cancelled, so it's turn over, go back to sleep for an hour and then go to work.............

 

Cheers,

Mick

[railsquid]

 And of course we thought nothing, except in bad rain, of walking a mile or more to school while nowadays we see (regularly round here) folk driving their offspring to school over much shorter distances.  However it was also a considerably less litigious society back then so if you slipped over on snow or ice it was regarded as your own silly fault (which in reality is still the case of course).

 

 

In the mid/late 1980s I used to cycle to/from school whatever the weather (uphill both ways in the snow etc. etc.).

 

Miserable cold wet Tokyo morning, luckily I don't need to go out.

[andyram]

Part of my previous post included an extensive quote. It seems my tablet has not shown that up well. My entry starts with the words "I agree". Don't want any confusion.

[jamie92208]

I never remember missing a days school due to weather either at a rural primary or a rural secondary.  Mind you as I was aday boy at the secondary the boarders were still in residence so closing was never even thought of.

 

Some posts ago someone poured scorn on the idea of teachers reporting to their nearest school if travel to work was impossible. That is precisely what we had to do in the police.  I only knew it to happen once in IIRC 1994.   The M62 was gridlocked and so were all roads across it so I managed to get to work by train.  (that's another story).  We got officers from all over turning up with a variety of kit.  2 of us sgts spent the first 90 minutes sorting out who we'd got and who ahd paraded elsewhere.  Everyone was then accounted for.  The ones without full uniform were given a high vis jacket and a radio and paired up with a fully a=equipped officer and sent out to walk the beat.  The system worked well and we even got a few prisoners as they were easy to track in the snow.

 

Anyway all is now quiet in the village north of Ikea.  The turkey has been finished off, No 2 son took quite a lot and SWMBO made the rest into turkey curry and a delightful turey stock that made the basis for a vegetable soup made from the leftovers.   I've spent most of the last 2 days doing a nice jigsaw that DD1 gave me.  It's a scene of gothland station and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  For once the steam locos wasn't the first part to be completed, after the edge.  Due to the colouring the loco, a black 5, was the last part to be finished.  Anyway Now that that's done it will hopefully be some more modelling time.

 

Jamie

[travelintrev]

Good morning all, 

 

quite day today,  but did go to an up-market resort / hotel / golf course -  just able to afford a coffee!  

 

Spent a fair time watching the birds......

 

Lets hope every ones Monday goes to plan,  stay warm & safe, 

 

Trev.

[NGT6 1315]

Morning all. Wakey, wakey!

 

Guess what, it's been snowing since some time in the tiny hours, and still is! Suppose it's about an inch max.

 

We'll see to getting a range hood for the kitchen later on. I checked that we have attachment matériel, so I hope an additional trip to the home supply center can be avoided.

 

Have a good one...

[roundhouse]

Morning

Signalling problems at Selhurst and Thameslink staff shortage affecting Brighton mainline and suburban services.

Luckily I am heading a different way this morning. My other half had to catch a London service so waved her off. Not a happy bunny having to work but I did say that at least it rill be an easier day and she's being paid for it plus we will be off when most people are back at work.

 

On the Redhill to Reading train on my way to Banbury. Can never have too many photos of a station that you are modelling!

 

Went to buy my ticket from the self service machines but the fare was over £47 whereas online it was £39. Went up to ticket window and sure enough it was £39. Told bloke at the ticket window of this so he said that he would report it. I have had this before but it's not been quite do much more and often there's a big queue at the windows to do much else but buy the ticket from the machine. Luckily today it was very quiet.

Edited December 29, 2014 by roundhouse

[Barry O]

Morning all!

Jamie we have yet to start our jigsaw but it may come into play later today.

 

Shopping this morning then more modelling. Amazing amount of repair work/coupling fitting/transfer application been achieved over the holidays as well as some paid modelling....

 

It was great to see the way Leeds rail station works on my way to Keighley. All sorts of diesels and electric units zipping around...all it needs is the odd scot, hub or peak on a S&C train and it would be brilliant!

 

Have a great day everyone!

 

Baz

 

PS a meeting of the Leeds Model Railway Society (Eating and Drinking Section) is happening tonight so I may be late in in the morning...

[Tony_S]

Good morning.

Cold and dry here.

No plans for today. I suspect a trip to a supermarket for routine items may be required.

[martin1]

morning all,cold and dry here,well mostly....ice attached like concreate,some at work have been scoffing at the snow tyres,not anymore,still managed 15 odd miles and some less than 1 mile away have failed to appear! jack still buried under duvet as I left....best place me thinks....have a good day all 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Fairly frosty start here today and will stay cold but dry with some sunny spells.

Doing a "taxi" job for my sister in law today as she has to go to the funeral of a neighbour and it's a bit of a trek for her on public transport. 

That and other things have got me some Brownie points - so much so that planning permission (at last) looks like being granted to convert the small bedroom into a railway room. There are (of course) some details/conditions to iron out but I live in hope.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

PS Ian & Dick "The California" at Belmont has been imaginatively re-named as..........."The Belmont"

Edited December 29, 2014 by grandadbob