Recent content by mike57

Probably exaggerated, assuming bulbs were 70v in a series string there would have been 9 in a string, so would probably end up seeing around 80v, they would certainly burn bright, wouldn't last (as) long, and any close to the end of their life would blow, protecting the rest of the string...

I often wonder if its 'rose coloured specs' effect, but having been a regular ECML user since the mid-late 70's I still think the HST/MK3 was the most comfortable stock that I have travelled on over the years, with the current 800 stuff right at the bottom, by a good margin.

There are two types of 'rough ride', that caused by track issues and that caused by carriage issues, things like dampers. For many years in HST days there was a bad 'lurch' just south of Peterborough on the ECML, caught a few dining car staff out over the years. A couple of years ago I was in...

I finally managed to visit the Musée des Transports Urbains in Chelles, which is a suburb to the east Paris. The museum is around 12 miles from the city centre and is easily accessible by public transport. They have a wide range of vehicles and artefacts from 'Urban Transport' in France...

When were carriage lights left permanently on? Growing up i seem to remember that they would only be switched on for tunnels or as it got dark. Reason it dropped into my mind is that some RER A (and may be other) trains in Paris seem to turn lights off when not in tunnels when light is good. I...

I spent the first 4 years of my life in Trinity Road, but can't really remember a lot, it was well over 60 years ago, We then moved to just off Nightingale Lane near Clapham South. I moved away from London in 1980

Interesting, I remember my Mother talking about Totopoly, but it didn't even make it into my childhood. The carpentry business is interesting as well, My Grandmothers father (my G Grand father) was a cabinet maker, and started 'Jackmans' in Balham in 1914. He started doing repairs and making...

I also have this edition, from 1936, with the 'Patent applied for' text. It was passed down from my Grandparents, who were in business in South London during the time that Monopoly appeared. Family oral history is that it was a sample provided by the reps who would call to tout their latest...

I have been following Simply Railway and Thibault Constant on YouTube for sometime, and I hope his Nox venture is successful. His plans seem well thought out to me. Starting with route that doesn't cross any international borders has to be easier, and allow teething troubles to be ironed out...

To me this is over regulation resulting in less than optimal solutions. Surely a brand new locomotive would be more efficent and less polluting than a reworked old one, where compromises will have been made with the design. Unfortunately we are seeing the same thing in other areas, the...

Seamer is another one, up to an hour to wait if you miss a connection, however you can carry on to Scarborough, but people from out of the area are not always aware of that option. Harbrough, changing for Barton on Humber branch, seem to remember there is a pub by the station, but I dont know...

I think there are several levels of facilities to consider depending on station size/usage. At a really basic level every station should have somewhere dry and out of wind and weather to wait. Quite a few stations even fail at this level. I dont consider a semi open shelter with no proper seats...

There was a 20mph restriction between Seamer and Filey. Things were back to normal yesterday, with trains back on the 'normal' timetable, and everything pretty much on time. The issue was described as a 'track defect' but why the whole section was subject to a limit and not just the defective...

I was a regular traveller between Yorkshire and London from the late 70s until the mid 80s as I was working in London Monday - Thursday for long periods. Mk 3 ride quality was better than anything that has followed, Mk 4s can be lively, and 80x are to be honest awful. I think Mk4s were designed...

As a regular ECML user I didnt travel on HSTs until I think late 1978, and agree that were transformational. Yorkshire - London journey times came down by typically 20 mins. That they are only just finally disappearing off front line services after 50 years is proof that the design, once...