Recent content by ac6000cw

Yes - the XC trains e.g. at 15:00 from Cambridge, don't require a change.

At Ely on Friday:

I've ridden in the VRE cars (and, a long time ago, the similar Chicago area Metra cars) - IIRC, they have 2+wide aisle+2 seating on the lower level, with (as you said) 1+narrow aisle+gap+narrow aisle+1 seating on the upper level. It basically creates (in passenger capacity terms) a roughly 'one...

It does happen amongst some of the cycling fraternity (I'm saying that as a local). It's why at green traffic lights I look around before setting off... The cyclists at night with no lights and wearing dark clothing are probably a worse hazard (to themselves).

I guess that on tread-braked stock (e.g. Mk 1's and most Mk 2's), braking from higher speeds would have heated the wheels to higher temperatures, and more often (as average speeds were higher), which might well have increased the likelihood of loose or cracked tyres due to thermal cycling.

When I was a regular visitor to Birmingham New Street in the 1970s, I sometimes heard/saw it being done there - most often on the NE/NW-SW/SE trains that changed locos and/or reversed, as IIRC they were timetabled to spend 15 minutes in the platform so there was enough time to do it. One of...

I agree. Being a bit fair, both GCT and Penn Station in New York were designed from the outset to be electric traction only, and the PRR route (today's NEC) into Washington Union was electrified in the 1930s. AFAIK, at all-diesel Chicago Union they try to keep locos at the 'country end' - using...

Note that when Washington Union station was opened in 1908, the platforms were largely in the open, with individual canopies (and a nice array of power semaphores!) - the concourse building runs across the back of the picture: ...then decades later a car park and road bridge was built over...

Re. car parking, there is also Babraham Road P&R car park (1458 spaces, free up to 18 hours), which is the closest P&R to the hospital/biomedical campus, from which you can catch a limited-stop electric bus to the hospital bus station (then walk 15 minutes across the campus to South station) or...

One problem with high platforms is low-level clearances for freight vehicles on mixed-traffic lines, resulting in things like gauntlet tracks at stations to bring passenger trains closer to the platform edge. LA Metrolink commuter rail is all low-platforms and double-deck cars, but for...

It was. The route into it from the north was also sunk below ground level (and electrified) to allow - very valuable - property development above it. I'm with you there - I think it's one of the nicest of the major US stations, and the clean, simple open-air platform layout with the...

Not needed today (as XC is running Peterborough - Cambridge - Stansted), but Peterborough - Cambridge via Hitchin/Stevenage is a good alternative route using GTR services. XC and GTR both operate Ely - Cambridge.

You mean Kingswinford Junction (near Brierley Hill) I assume? In the early/mid 1970s, Stourbridge Junction was one of my favourite train watching spots - bankers back then usually sat in the loop on the east side of the mainline between duties, then ran south into the station and reversed...

Thanks :) - my earlier post now edited.

...except there's little visible evidence that the mid-train loco is contributing much (no visible exhaust haze etc.), so I suspect it's mostly along for the ride so the train can be easily split when it gets to Hanwell. Both the 59 and the 66 on the front (in the 2nd photo) are working hard...