RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 6 minutes ago, Oldddudders said: As I've pointed out before, when the original RT1 contract was signed between Railtrack and BR on 1.4.94, there was no mention anywhere of vegetation clearance. While there was a scramble in subsequent weeks to rectify that, it has clearly never been a key issue even in the NR era. Perhaps not but that would surely have been covered by a requirement to maintain the railway infrastructure in a safe condition to fulfil its function. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 13 minutes ago, St Enodoc said: Perhaps not but that would surely have been covered by a requirement to maintain the railway infrastructure in a safe condition to fulfil its function. I regret to recall that the Railtrack era was not littered with shining examples of that. Potters Bar and Hatfield do come to mind, though. And if Railtrack's supplier - BRIS as it then was, prior to the BRIS Units being sold off - was not contracted to do something, then like any other contractor, it would not get done. You may assume that senior managers in BRIS HQ ground their teeth at some of the goings-on in Railtrack, and indeed at the negotiating stance often taken by Railtrack managers in the run-up to 1.4.94. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 4 hours ago, Mike_Walker said: Not according to the discussions between GWR drivers from the area on another forum yesterday who mentioned it was near the same spot as the 21 June incident. As they were saying NR were expecting the line remain closed until at least 15.00 then if it were at Plymouth station I don't think John would have been taken there to continue his journey. I only went by the media information, due to having no other source, the one driver I know moved to Bristol a few years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 19 hours ago, John Besley said: Can't belive how much vegetation clobbered the sides of the train in Cornwall... bit like off roading in a Landy..driving down overgrown green lanes It doesn't just happen in Cornwall, by a long chalk.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 40 minutes ago, Oldddudders said: I regret to recall that the Railtrack era was not littered with shining examples of that. Potters Bar and Hatfield do come to mind, though. And if Railtrack's supplier - BRIS as it then was, prior to the BRIS Units being sold off - was not contracted to do something, then like any other contractor, it would not get done. You may assume that senior managers in BRIS HQ ground their teeth at some of the goings-on in Railtrack, and indeed at the negotiating stance often taken by Railtrack managers in the run-up to 1.4.94. Indeed so, Ian. As Max Boyce said, I was there... I was referring to the requirement rather than its execution. This is an example of a common problem - specifying too much detail in technical requirements, so that providers can argue legitimately that they weren't obliged to do something that wasn't embodied specifically in the contract. Far better to have a smaller set of broad, overarching performance requirements to achieve a higher-level outcome. Less is more. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted July 6 29 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted July 6 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold checkrail Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 Lovely stuff - happy days! Looks like you got great weather for it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 53 minutes ago, checkrail said: Lovely stuff - happy days! Looks like you got great weather for it. Sunshine and showers, a cracking present with bonus of a trip up the Dart on the paddle steamer Kingswear Castle celebrating her 100 year birthday. 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 5 hours ago, Oldddudders said: As I've pointed out before, when the original RT1 contract was signed between Railtrack and BR on 1.4.94, there was no mention anywhere of vegetation clearance. While there was a scramble in subsequent weeks to rectify that, it has clearly never been a key issue even in the NR era. Yes, things moved on somewhat from the RT1 contract, especially once maintenance was taken in house. But vegetation control has always been an easy target when budgets are being squeezed (which was most of the time, when I was working). It was always extremely frustrating. The whole situation is a complete and utter disgrace. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike_Walker Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 Another tree down this morning - on the Henley branch. Particularly embarrassing as it's the Royal Regatta. Reported that no main line trains were stopping at Twyford possibly in an attempt to manage the huge crowds that use the train on these occasions.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 I didn’t see you on the footplate when I was down at Paignton South doing the barriers, Robin! 1630 departure. Photo taken whilst no safety-critical duties were being undertaken and following full PTS measures. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 1 minute ago, Brinkly said: I didn’t see you on the footplate when I was down at Paignton South doing the barriers, Robin! 1630 departure. Photo taken whilst no safety-critical duties were being undertaken and following full PTS measures. Nice to see someone else using a Dapol product. 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 13 minutes ago, Brinkly said: I didn’t see you on the footplate when I was down at Paignton South doing the barriers, Robin! 1630 departure. Photo taken whilst no safety-critical duties were being undertaken and following full PTS measures. Just missed you then @Brinkly 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 8 minutes ago, gwrrob said: Just missed you then @Brinkly So were you 'on the cushions' for this trip, Robin? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Besley Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 11 hours ago, Mike_Walker said: Not according to the discussions between GWR drivers from the area on another forum yesterday who mentioned it was near the same spot as the 21 June incident. As they were saying NR were expecting the line remain closed until at least 15.00 then if it were at Plymouth station I don't think John would have been taken there to continue his journey. According to the Guard of our train it was at Tavistock Jct... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 14 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said: So were you 'on the cushions' for this trip, Robin? On the return from Kingswear although disappointed the Devon Belle observation saloon is currently out of service. A very enjoyable day. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Besley Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 3 minutes ago, gwrrob said: On the return from Kingswear although disappointed the Devon Belle observation saloon is currently out of service. A very enjoyable day. Any pictures from the footplate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 5 minutes ago, gwrrob said: On the return from Kingswear although disappointed the Devon Belle observation saloon is currently out of service. A very enjoyable day. We had many rain showers here, so I hope you had better weather. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post gwrrob Posted July 6 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted July 6 14 minutes ago, John Besley said: Any pictures from the footplate? I couldn’t due to the excess movement of the fall plate moving me about to keep the camera steady. 23 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMKAT7 Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 Good evening folks, I remember travelling to Salisbury from Bristol via Westbury some 10 years ago and was amazed at the amount of vegetation striking the train at Dilton Marsh. I checked the 150 unit at Salisbury for paint scratches but there seemed to be no obvious additional scrapes. Doesn't sound like things have got any better 🙁 Cheers, Nigel. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 6 hours ago, gwrrob said: Hi Robin, Really pleased to see you had a great day on 7827. However, it would appear your apparel has been reported to the Newton About shed foreman as non-BR standard uniform. Suitable work attire can be found here.... https://www.yarmo.co.uk/products/yarmo-bib-and-brace-overalls-sailcloth-cotton-bb01 Here: https://www.yarmo.co.uk/products/yarmo-sailcoth-engineers-jacket-jk011 As well as here: https://footplateequipment.co.uk/product/traditional-greasetop-hat-cap/ Please report to the Newton About shed foreman's office at 06.30hrs on Monday morning, where you will be given form 'British Railways (Western Region/ANTB) 7800-7829' to obtain your new uniform. All being well this will address the said issue. The following items will also be issued from stores on receipt of form 'British Railways (Western Region/ANTB)- 80ll0cks https://footplateequipment.co.uk/product-category/equipment/tea-brew-cans/ and... https://footplateequipment.co.uk/product/firing-shovel-heavy-duty/ By the way. Looks like a fabulous day on 7827. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Cheers, Mark 4 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 46444 Posted July 6 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6 1 hour ago, gwrrob said: I couldn’t due to the excess movement of the fall plate moving me about to keep the camera steady. Lovely snaps Robin. Does 7827 have a rocking grate fitted to the firebox? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Besley Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 (edited) Correction... there used to be a jacket not tp dissimilar to the old Donkey jacket without the waterproof shoulder these where issued once you'd completed 300 firing turns Edited July 6 by John Besley Corrected text 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted July 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7 8 hours ago, gwrrob said: Fabulous Kodachrome skies! 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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