The Rail Enthusiast thread

[rogerzilla]

I was waiting for my train from Leicester to Birmingham this afternoon when a pair of Class 73's turned up on platform 4.

A bit of the beaten track for these beasties.

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Those are 73/9 so have been re-engineered. 1600hp diesel engines, so can give a good performance away from third rail. As built, the class 73 had a tiny engine and was intended to spend most of its time on electrified lines.

Similar 73/9 locos are used on the Caledonian Sleeper - really, really off their original stomping ground. They are lighter in weight than most main line diesels, so can work through to Oban.

 

[robjh]

I had the good fortune today to be on a train through this place

It is the only stop on the Great Yarmouth to Reedham line, and sits in glorious isolation in the Halvergate Marshes, near an old pumping windmill but with no road connection. It is a short platform, to which only one carriage of the train is opened, and was recently refurbished along with the whole of this short line, but can get no more than a few curious walkers and bird-watchers as (occasional) customers.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Monday 16th
(gate pillars of)
Marsh Lane Station
Leeds
The citys first station, dating from 1834, & closed (to all use) in 1958

(my Kodiaq, as I'd pulled off the road)

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5924376
https://www.lner.info/co/NER/selby/selby.php

Circa 1910, use the 'blue slider' to see present day Leeds; https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.2&lat=53.79701&lon=-1.52936&layers=168&b=1

 

[DCBassman]

Plymouth to Bristol Parkway on Thursday fro hospital treatment, pleased that the train was a Class 43 HST, and not one of the awful Voyagers.

 

[rogerzilla]

Plymouth to Bristol Parkway on Thursday fro hospital treatment, pleased that the train was a Class 43 HST, and not one of the awful Voyagers.

If you had your bike, you'd be especially glad. Bike provision on Class 800s is dire.

 

[Spartak]

If you had your bike, you'd be especially glad. Bike provision on Class 800s is dire.

Is it those ridiculous bike hangers...?

 

[rogerzilla]

Is it those ridiculous bike hangers...?

Yup, two places in an alcove only wide enough for one bike (and too low to get a tourer in without the rear mudguard scraping the floor).

That's if it's not already full of luggage.

 

[BrumJim]

If you had your bike, you'd be especially glad. Bike provision on Class 800s is dire.

Probably talking about Class 220 / 221s. Better, but only very marginally.

 

[robjh]

This is a bike cupboard on an LNER class 800, on a good day. It is a struggle getting that bike hung up, as it is heavy and has 35mm tyres, but at least it fits. The real fun starts when a second bike turns up

 

[Andy in Germany]

This is a bike cupboard on an LNER class 800, on a good day. It is a struggle getting that bike hung up, as it is heavy and has 35mm tyres, but at least it fits. The real fun starts when a second bike turns up

View attachment 675449

That's tight, I see the problem when there's a second bike. Unfortunately DB are using similar hooks on their new intercity trains.

The new local trains have plenty of space, fortunately.

 

[robjh]

That's tight, I see the problem when there's a second bike. Unfortunately DB are using similar hooks on their new intercity trains.

The new local trains have plenty of space, fortunately.

Some new local trains in the UK have pretty good cycle provision, such as the Stadler class 755s on Greater Anglia, but there is too much variation by train type and operator.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Some new local trains in the UK have pretty good cycle provision, such as the Stadler class 755s on Greater Anglia, but there is too much variation by train type and operator.

Interestingly, the local units here are the same Stadler trains, albeit built to a larger loading gauge. By the way, do the toilets work any better on the UK ones?

We also have franchising but it's done differently and local authorities have lots more say in provision. Among other things this means there's plenty of cycle provision.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Line to Basel southbound is bunged up; there's a passenger train sitting just outside the window.

Northbound is still ruunning though which means it's an operational issue as opposed to an emergency.

 

[Oldhippy]

Just read a brief piece Mitsubishi have a train that although not yet in service, tops out at 603kmh!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Wednesday 18th
1.

Hest Bank Signal Box
(between Morecambe &) Carnforth
Lancashire

This is where the Byway over the sands of the Bay reaches Lancashire
(I’ve run over there in half-marathon!, & know someone who’s driven over!)

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3672995