Gwiwer

The red line which denoted catering vehicles was not commonly seen on Kent suburban services, nor on the other routes afflicted by compartment-only stock. Here that line served as a warning and while it did have two meanings (warning / catering) the two did not overlap and confusion was unlikely.

One of two or possibly three very similar and most regrettable incidents at much the same time. The 4EPB fleet was reshuffled such that the single all-compartment trailer which many units had was exchanged with an open one from another unit and the compartment ones then paired up in class 405/5 units re-numbered in the 5501 series. As Ian says these were supposedly only to work fixed peak-time diagrams which required the highest capacity but they strayed on a daily basis. They did however normally remain in pairs and not work with other 4EPB units. The 2EPB units could not be reshuffled and half of one coach thus received the red line. As did ER units of classes 302, 305, 307 and 308 also blessed with compartment-only vehicles, The restriction on end-door stock through Shakespeare Tunnel has been eased to permit class 395 stock to traverse the route but was not lifted from class 365 which ended up on the Great Northern anyway.

Non-gangwayed stock most certainly did work through Higham and Strood Tunnels (those which were originally canal tunnels and are consequently a little tight to gauge) right up until the end. There was however a restriction affecting compartment-only stock in its later years. As I recall, and others may correct me here, once the affected units gained the red "compartment-only" stripes at cantrail height they were banned from conveying passengers through those tunnels because there was a higher risk of them being trapped in a single compartment if an emergency occurred. The same restriction applied to the tunnels between Dover and Folkestone through which EPB stock seldom worked though Haps did daily. The restriction also applied to all rolling stock without end doors through Shakespeare Tunnel meaning Haps could ultimately not work in service below the cliffs either. I don't believe there has ever been a ban on open-style EPB stock, nor on Haps which also had open seating bays, through Higham and Strood tunnels.

I have bought a few second-hand items and found most to be almost indistinguishable from new. The one exception had its only fault described on the website and that was sufficiently minor (loose glazing inside cab) that I felt it could be easily rectified. It was. But I too have heard from other sources off RMweb that some - and I stress some - of the "like new" items do indeed end up arriving like junk. And some of the second-hand stock is visibly tat on the website and described as "Sold as seen". However if an item is described as "Like new" and has as many faults as described above then surely Trading Standards should become involved?

Mal Sorry to hear it hasn't all been plain sailing for you. I gather it seldom is in reality even for those who are nominally in the clear. I wish you all the best as you take the next steps. While here I should also record that I too may require some further attention. The surgery which preceded my radiotherapy resulted in an overall improvement in function for five years but more recently (perhaps not noticed over rather longer) there has been some sort of regrowth of skin tissue. Hopefully not cancerous - and it certainly doesn't appear that way - more a case of the body trying to replace what was taken from it. But not 100% as it should be. The effect is that, to be blunt, I cannot reliably predict which way the waterworks will go no matter how good the aim. I shall parade before the GP, who hasn't seen me before as this is post-relocation, and produce my clinical notes for his perusal. What happens then I know not at this stage. It's inconvenient rather than worrying, to be fair. But it's not right and it could be attended to.

Botophucket emailed me in reply to my ticket to confirm they have cancelled the payment arrangements for the account. As this is on an annual basis I don't get a refund but I wasn't after one anyway. I have to stop the payments before I can close the account. Now I find I still cannot close the account because it has the remainder of this year's credit applied. What sort of business are they running, exactly, when a customer cannot simply say "No thanks" and leave?

That sounds like a collection. And it isn't the first time there has been a collection of items listed at the same time.

Morning all. Grey. damp and cooler than it ought to be this morning. Cat is hogging the duvet - a cat is never wrong. Today marks RUOK Day in Australia; typically in a workplace situation colleagues are encouraged to ask each other "Are You OK?" as a general welfare check and to allow an opportunity for any mental health issues to be raised. There is no suggestion that mental health matters can be dealt with casually nor that they are trivialised - they can endure a lifetime. But there is the sense of looking out for each other and perhaps quietly making a difference to someone. I have lost friends who might still be around today if only someone had spotted they were not OK. Or had asked. The door, albeit an electronic one, is always open here. RUOK? SWMBO is off on a training course today and has had to locate Isleworth. Not very far at all but when you haven't been before it makes for a slightly apprehensive start to the day. Notter Lott to be attended to about the house today. I shall no doubt find work for idle hands somehow. Have a good one. Friday is just around the corner. Edited to include image just received of the Aussie XPT train on the Sydney - Dubbo run today

Only a handful of BR Standard 4EPB units were regeared for 90mph. For all the rest 75mph was fine as such speeds were seldom reached in suburbia or even on the "extended" suburban runs to Sevenoaks or Gillingham. The 90mph units were used on the Brighton main line for a time with at least one appearing as part of the non-stop formation much to the chagrin of those accustomed to a Cig+Big+Cig for their 55 minute ride. The EPB was supposed to be at one end or the other to permit passengers in the rest of the train to walk through. On the occasion I travelled the EPB was the middle unit which I only discovered having pulled out of Victoria aboard the rear Cig and discovered I was unable to reach the buffet car due to the presence of four non-gangwayed coaches between me and my intended refreshements.

2. It varied and it changed over time so the only really reliable method is to use dated photographic evidence. But in general the seated area would be marshalled adjacent to the coach which it matched so TRSB with seats at the TS end and TRUK with seats at the FK end. In original formation the TRSB should have had (but I cannot confirm that it did) the seats adjacent to the single TS next to the power car in order to balance the number of seats either side of the servery. The TRUK had no buffet counter or serving area as such though the kitchen door had a drop-down flap which was used at times for this purpose and had to be on those occasions when a TRUK was the only catering vehicle in the set. It happened. My recollection is that the coach was marshalled with this door at the TF end in order to facilitate table service of meals to first class passengers as originally intended when the vehicles were designed and formations specified. 3. Usually on a sticker below the carriage number rather than on the ends

Of those stations currently open on the national network: Scotscalder, Corrour, Rannoch, Dovey Junction, Berney Arms, Sugar Loaf and Teesside Airport (at least) have populations of zero. However none of these is a town or city as asked in the OP and they exist solely to serve specific needs such as hikers at Corrour, interchange at Dovey Junction and a pub and windmill at Berney Arms . Bridge of Orchy does not record a separate population figure for its modest hotel-based settlement but I believe it to be in the region of 10. Forsinard does not record separate population figures either but I believe the permanent population is in the region of 20. The honour for a town with more than one station goes without doubt to Tyndrum with it two stations serving a population of 167 (83.5 per station) Ryde is the smallest town with three open stations Acton is the town (albeit a suburb of London but still a clearly defined area with its own centre) with the greatest number of stations including the place name other than London itself. North, South, East, West, Central, Town and Main Line however only South, Central and Main Line are on the NR with the other four being on TfL routes.

True but not on the South Eastern Division. IIRC it came via Acton, Kew, Stewarts Lane low level lines and Tulse Hill.

I personally watched 2411 and 2417 come through the unlikely (for 5Wes units) location of Gospel oak yesterday. Ironically while I was waiting for a class 172 unit for Barking on the line which is about to be electrified at long last.

Morning all. A wild night last night. Gusty and occasionally storm-force winds interspersed with heavy showers rattled everything loose and kept our huge trees busy. New neighbours (upstairs) had friends around for dinner which got rather rowdy. We asked them to remember they are living in close proximity to other people. All went quiet after dinner but we were woken at 1.45am by an obviously drunk crowd of young people arriving back, clomping up the stairs, shouting, squealing, arguing and apparently throwing things around. This went on until 3am when neighbour (top floor) was heard to come down, bang on their door and remind them she was trying to get some sleep. Easier for her than for us as the two upper flats share a common stairwell inside a locked outer door. We would have had to ring the outer doorbell ...... Offenders haven't surfaced yet but they will receive a written note from us (currently on their doormat) asking that they come and apologise tonight for keeping us not only awake but quite disturbed at the level of noise and the language it included. If they don't take that seriously the next step is a letter to the managing agent who will readily remind them by way of a formal warning to abide by their tenancy conditions and be respectful and quiet neighbours. Early alarm (refer to paragraph above) wasn't appreciated after that but I was up-and-at-'em for the interview with Clapham Junction's duty station managers. I'll know in due course whether it went well but it seemed to go well enough. SWMBO was very disgruntled over loss of sleep and didn't set off in a good mood. Currently sunny with brisk and chilly wind. More of the falling-down stuff is forecast later. To all - have a good Wednesday / Humpday / Midweek. Delete any which do not apply. Best wishes

Nah. We used to say LH stood for Loud Horrible. And the shorter ones were Loud Horrible S**tboxes. Compared with a National they were a pain to drive and to board as a passenger. Compared with an RF they were lumpy, bumpy and uncomfortable. However compared with the SUS which they replaced on my "home" Penzance - Mousehole run they marginally easier to steer into that village.

Reading had a few 4-car 117 sets which inclued a 101 trailer. They were supposed to be kept to specific duties because the lower power:weight ratio affected timekeeping but they turned up pretty much anywhere. It is possible that one of these was included with two standard 3-car 117s in an excursion to maximise seating capacity.

Bill - thanks. 10 years earlier than OP asked for as you acknowledge and of course I agree. Had I replied to 1959 instead of 1969 my answer would have closely resembled yours.

Evening all. Busy one today. Taken to breakfast by SWMBO at a quite early hour. Headed into Kew Gardens with her in order to grab some early-light shots with no-one around. Public entry opens at 10am but for guests of the staff it's any time in daylight. Then home to prepare myself for the Grey Train Company Grilling in the morning. First hurdle cleared with ease; the second might not be so easy as I not only have to pass the on-job interview but my face would have to fit with the team into which I may be slotted. That's tomorrow. Here was today. Around, and above, Kew Gardens between 8 and 9am. And a view across the river to Syon House which stands facing the rising sun.

Correct. City of Oxford was the only NCB operator to never have a Leyland National. It's double-deck running mate the Bristol VRT also went to every NBC operator bar one - Midland Red in this case.

Suburban trains - almost invariably EPB units in 4, 6, 8 or 10 car formations Medway towns - Hap and EPB units on trains terminating (mostly at Gillingham) with those to the coast mostly Cep but some Hap. There were EPB workings through to Ramsgate at peak times and Haps coupled to Ceps too. Sheerness branch was always a single Hap except the through London trains which were up to four units. Main lines through Tonbridge - Cep and Bep units on most trains with EPB workings out to Sevenoaks and occasionally Tonbridge. Hap units on he Medway Valley line from Paddock Wood to Strood. 6L DEMU units on London - Hastings trains with a 6B added on most. Specified trips for the shorter 6S units as they had fewer seats. Tonbridge - Redhill - Reading mostly 3R "Tadpole" units but some rostered class 33 + 3 mk1 coaches. Tonbridge - Tun. Wells - Eridge always 3D units though 3H units were permitted and sometimes appeared west of Tun. Wells West. 2H units on Ashford - Hastings and the Lydd branch with 3H and 3D not unknown Boat trains by 1969 usually 12Cep+MLV as the TLVs had gone by 1968. Golden Arrow and Night Ferry hauled by class 71 locos Inter-regional holiday trains to Margate and Ramsgate could produce classes 24, 25 or 47. Freight - plenty of it and worked by classes 33 and 71 though with frequent visits from many other types Parcels and newspaper trains - again often worked by a 33 though sometimes an MLV or 71 Shunting by class 09 with some 08, 10 and 12 though class 12 (D152xx) may have been extinct by 1969. Plenty of variety

Correct. Sister to LS30 seen in post 445 and discussed in post 447 above http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/122692-for-those-interested-in-old-buses-and-coaches/?p=2842184 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/122692-for-those-interested-in-old-buses-and-coaches/?p=2842212

Eating cake?

Not virtually. Every day. Not SWR's fault but it is the measure of a TOC to show their response to such problems. SWR's response has been patchy, staff have at times been conspicuous by their absence when needed the most and it is in the normal order of things for late changes to be made to platforming, stopping patterns and even whether a train will actually run. In that respect they have been no better than many other TOCs. We might have hoped that they anticipated knock-on dramas after such a huge blockade and were prepared but it seems not.

Class 141 was, literally, a railbus.

Saw the same here. Buses do not normally serve Strawberry Hill as the road is considered too small and the many large trees present a hazard. When we have rail replacement buses they normally stop a few minutes walk away at St. Mary's University which is on the 33 bus route. Yesterday the depot had given their drivers route maps clearly marked up for coming through the village. I encountered a red double-decker trying to make a three-point turn (without a banksman ) into a lay-by in order to follow the marked route. Later in the day they had clearly been told they must not attempt the turn and were to stop 100 yards short of the station instead at a point where they could turn in a road junction. And there was still no banksman. They also had problems in Teddington where Station Road was blocked by roadworks meaning the set-down point was around 600 yards from the station. Some passengers were inconvenienced by the walk and train connections were missed. Those with roller blinds showed "Rail Replacement Service" as always but one with an electronic screen was showing "South Western Trains"