Recent content by Bogallan

The signalman at Nairn used to issue tickets after the clerkess had gone off duty, as well of course, as cycling along the platform to change the road at the ground frames in the signal cabins. The block instruments to Forres and Invernesss SC were in the station SB adjacent to the booking...

Yes indeed. I have invited a few young children who have shown interest over the years into the back cab. The memory will stay with them for a very long time I feel. It ceratinly did with me when I was invited into the Driving cab on the way to school. Infact, there were 3 of we schoolboys in...

Have to agree with all the comments about not delaying the train over a revenue matter. Trouble is, passengers seated nearby often take an interest in the matter being discussed and if they see the guard give in and simply walk off without taking action then they feel rightly aggrieved that they...

His name was “Scottie”. Yes, he was very enthusiastic and helpful for sure. He always seemed like a “Whirling Dervish” to me, always rushing about, helping passengers, doing things. I met him on a LNWR train recently with “Mrs. Scottie” - he was very chatty and still enthusiastic, though he has...

Reproduced from Hornby Hobbies “The Collector” magazine recently there is a picture of a train near Durham. Nothing special in that, however, the engine has just passed under a semaphore signal with home and distant arms and between them is what looks like a subsidiary or calling on arm. All the...

I agree, the doors were slow. They were modified latterly however, and became slightly quicker at opening, but I did see some guards pushing the door open with their hands to speed up the door opoening process. Travelling on the line last year we were waiting time at a many stations, but that...

As well as the rear cab, the 230s could be worked from the door in the centre of the train in each carriage. There was no PA installed however for the station to be announced when "Doris" was not working. The TVMs do not accept cash, so anybody without a smart mobile would be unable to buy a...

Thank you for your reply. I thought the same as you, penalty fares were not in operation on the line, but passing Bow Brickhill this morning, a poster advising this was a penalty fare station was displayed. I cannot find anything on the LNWR website giving the limits of the Penalty fare area...

A query some may be able answer. Is the Marston Vale line included in the Penalty fare scheme? I seem to recall this line as well as the Abbey was not included in the sheme in times past. As far as I can see there is no current (post Jan 23) map of the penalty fare stations.

Yes, the date of next Monday, 24th is confirmed in the internal "Yammer" WMT post by the Comms dept. They are looking for photographs of the train's arrival in Bletchley. No times given as yet though.

Very interesting and thank you all for your replies.

Prior to re the re-grouping in 1923, when there were about 120 different railway companies, I was wondering if you were able to buy a ticket from say Elgin to Carlisle and travel over any private companies routes, whether it be the Highland Railway, North British, Caledonian, GNSR etc. In other...

As a Bletchley guard working the line, I always enjoyed working the trains when they were working. Reliability was atrocious at some points as we all know - I remember one day, going up Brogborough bank from Lidlington at 5mph all the way! Generally, most of the guards and drivers enjoyed the...

I have a cutting showing the introduction of the 230s in September 2018. The last recorded picture I have one on the branch is May 2019, so it was sometime after this.

Looking at the line as a whole, the service should be able to run like clockwork. We were promised 7 day a week running, however COVID soon pit paid to that and it does not appear to be coming back any time soon. The stations are very well kept, even now, with no rail passengers they are fully...