Recent content by Brunel 1954

Details of a GWR proposed electrification scheme are contained in a book called "The Last Station" by Christian Barham.

Comfortable seats such as the ones in Mk 1 First Open coaches. Large tables and seats which lined up with the windows. The abolition of tombstone seat backs, sufficient legroom for someone who is 6'3" tall like myself and accessible toilets with wide doors for the disabled like myself...

Probably was an HST exhaust fire. I worked at Laira Depot from 1979 to 1986 in the Traincrew Office which overlooked the main Plymouth to Paddington mainline. One morning I looked up from my desk to see a Up servive to Paddington go past with the roof of the leading Power Car on fire. I...

How can you say that the leyland National bus design was successful? We had them in Plymouth for a short time and they were appalling, very badly built, unreliable and apt to collide with bus shelters as the weight distribution was all wrong.

The Deltics were very important locomotives as for their power and acceleration they were able to speed up the East Coast Services and strengthen the competitiveness of rail against other forms of transport. It was sad that they had such a short service life especially compared to their...

I have noticed that sometimes at station stops that the driver has left the cab to use the toilet in the leading coach in the train as modern power cars are not provided with facilities. With most classic diesels a urinal was provided in the engine room for crew use.

The HST's despite being 40 years old shouls be maintained even though they have been *******ised by BR and various operators. Initially they had 72 seats per coach and this has been gradually increased to the detriment of legroom. I am 6'3" and I recently had to travel on a FGW HST and the...

Hopefully, they will either be taken around the coasts of the UK and dumped at sea as artificial reefs for fish or, they could be used on all the Devon and Cornwall Branch lines as they are better than the dire 150's !!!

I understand that whenever possible steel is used for bodyshells as in the case of an accident aluminium can burn if it is set on fire.

When I worked in the Travel Centre at Plymouth Station during the mid to late 1970's the policy was that either the BT Police or the Station Supervisor would make patrols of the station at night. If anyone was found sleeping rough they would be gently woken up and if they had a valid rail...