big jim

Just one from tonight, 66744 to mountsorrel where the outward train was cancelled so instead of taking it back south to Landor st (and ultimately Eastleigh) I took it to Doncaster as tomorrows train (which is also cancelled) is booked to go there before heading back south on Wednesday

Bit late to the party nick! Was mentioned yesterday with a pic (one page back) Anyhoo the 50 has dragged the 56s back to Nottingham this afternoon for a well earned wash and service no doubt

cheers, been waiting for one of these offers to come along, got £17 off the rails ltd ed 66727 "maritime", on top of that 1.05% cashback through topcashback dropped it to a more palatable £151

It was a special treat for drivers and operational staff who worked tirelessly through the season keeping the train running

Yep, gonna pop down to Crewe station in the morning and grab some pics of it and the crew before I get the train to work

Don’t mention the changes I mentioned it once, and I think I got away with it

As a sight aside you could use 421/099 top and tail on a rake of 5 auto ballasters https://flic.kr/p/KhcTNq Ok it was 254 on the rear but what the hey!

Looking at some on my pics on Flickr I’ve certajnly not had 099/421 combo with mentor and I can defiantly say I’ve never seen it run with just locos since Colas worked it it’s always as Townsend says running with other coaches I have had 099 with mentor but the other locoo was 254 similarly I’ve had it with the 67s too, I’ve also taken it to a few unusual non wired places where it’s been used as a brake force vehicle, Lowestoft and gt Yarmouth spring to mind! Last time I worked it was with 37025 to Hadfield but it was again not being used in anger I’m also lucky to have had a ride in it in the jockey seat in the roof watching the wires, very relaxing and didn’t take long to nod off My mentor is made from a brass etch that Shane Wilton supplied for me but I believe he has no more left, I used a Hornby mk1 as the donor vehicle and went totally over the top and did all the inside too as well as illuminating it! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/106497-big-jims-workbenchits-all-gone-a-bit-yellow/?p=3000819 Still not finished though!

The letters and numbers are retro reflective so can look silver in the right light (or under a camera flash)

More iport turns this week And one from tonight

heard that yesterday, kind of glad i didnt stay with colas IM in the end talk of DRS and west coast doing some or all of the work

and if anyone from rails is reading this then a nice festive offer on your ltd ed GBRF 66727 "maritime one" wouldnt go amiss as this thread is 12 months old here is a link to rails home page with a link to that days offer on the 2018 advent calender https://railsofsheffield.com

I still maintain they should have called them something like “laurel” and “hardy”, “Bill” and “Ben”, “Paul chuckle” and “Barry chuckle”, “Simon” and “Garfunkel” etc

They tried it on the Cambrian when they introduced ERTMS at great expence fitting signage only to abandon it and return to miles and chains (the in cab equipment is still KPH, KM and M though)

The computer is used for the whole length of the train including the loco, not just the loco It’s used to tell you when the rear end of the consist is over a speed restriction or exited a yard etc as long as you click it to start to count down when you get to the end of the lower speed

Our train lists have SLU on them as well as ft, the problem being the class 66 train length computer is in meters so i have to convert it myself!

Hmmm, been asked to work the Cambrian RHTT next week for Colas, thought I’d got away with it this year if I get hired out

The plasterer didn’t do the boarding out for me but I’ll pass the above advice on, I think there are a load of screws left and I can see where you mean about the lack of them on the board by the doorway (the frame needs securing properly too) The bit above the window is a steel lintel, to be honest I’ve go to silicone seal around the window frame as when we had that bad weather on Monday rain water was pouring in through the gap, it was exasperated by the temporary lack of guttering above the window and the wind hitting the side of the garage so it just flowed off the roof down the brickwork onto the lintel, I suspect that is why he’s not plasterboarded that area for me but I’ll ask the plasterer to finish it for me

Plasterboarded up This is the only bit I’m concerned about, I take it the plasterer will be able to fill that gap ok?

In this day and age a GSM broadcast can be sent to any train in the area advising them of the restriction, most of the time it’s clear enough to hear compared to NRN and it can be resent every couple of minutes the only time I’ve ever had a last minute ESR imposed where there was no warnings I was stopped prior to it and advised by the signaller at the signal before that the warning boards were in the process of being put out and to proceed at caution until the next signal where I would be clear of it Personally I don’t see the issue with there being no need to warn drivers of ESR in late notice cases, I’ve not looked in one for years due to the nature of my work and I’m no less professional than someone who sees late notice cases everyday Looking at ertms too, as much as I have criticised it in the past ESRs can be sent straight to the cab of a loco/unit which is a really good idea, you ain’t going to miss one on that system! I’ve actually had one sent to my 97 on the way to Machynlleth and as the fault was repaired by the time I returned it was immediately cancelled and didn’t effect me on the way back

No Colas driver available so I was asked via GBRf to help out

Some from today, started in Nottingham And took these to Hinksey Waiting to leave Eastcroft Waiting the road in Nottingham Filthy 70809 Waiting at beeston Stopped at burton for a break, typically the schedule had 2 long breaks just after you get on board then express burton to oxford! Didn’t get any pics at Hinksey as it was a rush off to get a train home, some puzzled lookin spotters seeing a gbrf uniformed driver getting off the locos! Next job rail milling machine again on the wcml then more iport

Has hell froze over and pendon fallen into the pit of oblivion today yet? Old mother shipton predicted the end of the world once a diesel ran on there apparently “Where there normally be steam, a Hymek must not be seen, or rivers of fire will flow from Didcot to the vale and not a scale down person will be saved”

I was gonna south end of new st, plat 10-11 side looking down from the bullring wall