Next big things that never lived up to the hype, failed, or disappeared without a trace... What do you remember??

[Ming the Merciless]

One of those things that seem to have been a good idea

which was modified by several committees

Tell us more about these committees and what modifications they made.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

For example

making the hard shoulder a normal lane

which saves a LOT of money on building a new lane

but then not having enough cameras watching
and not having enough people watching the cameras to ensure that if someone stops for whatever reason then something is done abou tit immediately

and not having enough signs to warn oncoming traffic that there is a blockage IMMEDIATELY

all because that saves money - in my mind anyway



Also - lots of stories about speed limits remaining in place in spite of the reason clearing hours before

presumably because the people who would clear the flags on the system and reset everything were kept to a minimum

 

[Drago]

One thing I've observed from these infrastructure wheezes across the years - attempts to save money usually end up costing a fortune!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

One thing I've observed from these infrastructure wheezes across the years - attempts to save money usually end up costing a fortune!

I have had 2 careers - one in a big business and one in schools

both proved that

 

[Ming the Merciless]

For example

making the hard shoulder a normal lane

which saves a LOT of money on building a new lane

but then not having enough cameras watching
and not having enough people watching the cameras to ensure that if someone stops for whatever reason then something is done abou tit immediately

and not having enough signs to warn oncoming traffic that there is a blockage IMMEDIATELY

all because that saves money - in my mind anyway



Also - lots of stories about speed limits remaining in place in spite of the reason clearing hours before

presumably because the people who would clear the flags on the system and reset everything were kept to a minimum

Can you share the original specifications? Be interested to see what they were before modifucation.

 

[Gunk]

I used to work for Orange, which was the successor company to Rabbit. The Rabbit had been closed down by then. but amongst the staff there was a big secondary market for old rabbit handsets for use as house phones. Even house phones are obsolete now and I've not had one for years - my landlines are data only, or I've never plugged a phone into the router at any rate

We still have a landline, goodness knows why, the only calls we get these days are from scammers.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Goretex. Has not disappeared but never lives up to the hype of “guaranteed to keep you dry”.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

We still have a landline, goodness knows why, the only calls we get these days are from scammers.

Ans: On getting such calls give the phone to an 8 yr old and tell them it's Father Christmas.

 

[Gunk]

Ans: On getting such calls give the phone to an 8 yr old and tell them it's Father Christmas.

I stick them on hold and then walk away

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

To be fair, how much actual time would be saved on a UK run if the train's top speed was 150mph? I suspect very little given all the slower sections, curves, waiting at signals, stopping at stations etc.

The whole point was that curves would not be a problem. Also they were developing new signals for it too.

In my youth I used to drive way too fast. Even driving well over the speed limits when I could, it only knocked a couple of minutes off a two hour run

Yes it's the combined start to stop speed you need, not just bursts here and there.

I did have an insider story that if they'd done major signalling improvements instead of HS2 they could have significantly improved capacity and journey times on existing track (by safely allowing more trains on a given track) at a fraction of the costs. But of course improved signalling is not as sexy as superfast trains

Probably, yeah, although capacity will continue to be a problem, especially on the WCML south of about Crewe, so a new line would (in theory) need to be built sooner or later anyway and also, with a dedicated line, you could eliminate some of the problems mentioned above.

 

[Drago]

Also they were developing new signals for it too.

A system of flags by day and touches with coloured filters by night would have been less expensive and more effective.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

We still have a landline, goodness knows why, the only calls we get these days are from scammers.

I have one and the only person who ever phones me on it is my Dad.

The ‘tilting trains’ what a waste of money. As a track engineer we just embanked the curves and ordinary 125s just did the same job but faster.

Which is ok, until you get to a speed or a location where that isn't practical. That was kinda' the point.

A system of flags by day and touches with coloured filters by night would have been less expensive and more effective.

With the APT, they were simply adapting existing signals for higher speeds. I seem to remember seeing some of them still around on the WCML, complete with their flashing aspects and so on, waiting for a train that would never come.
They might even still be about now.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Can you share the original specifications? Be interested to see what they were before modifucation.

I have no idea what the original idea was - it is all just my assumptions from what I see

and reports I seem to remember reading about how wonderful the ideas were

and how they compare to what has been reported and the problems they seem to have

so it could all be total drivel

but somehow I think money saving was on the agenda at some point looking at the reports of problems

 

[Drago]

With the APT, they were simply adapting existing signals for higher speeds.

Larger flags waved a little more quickly?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Larger flags waved a little more quickly?

This was the 1980s', not the 1820s'!