Recent content by tj.stevenson

I understand that track renewal is taking place this weekend north of Stoke, and I would very much like to see any High Output trains in operation. Does anyone know where they will be and when?

I have just noticed that the various time displays at at least one station (MAC) disagree with each other by a few seconds and from UTC also by a few seconds. This a new phenomenon. Having a radio synchronised watch is burden sometimes... Is there a new (lower cost) system for time...

Does this mean that junctions/points/crossover inspections focus on failures/wear best seen with side illumination? Are the most likely permanent way failure modes those that result in vertical displacements/ cracks in vertical faces? I can believe it, but is this a major reason why the...

Thankyou - I am amazed that they are mounted at such a low level - staff and equipment must throw long shadows over a worksite. You get less complaints from the 'neighbours', that way? I guess the concentration at junctions is because maintenance activity is more or less continuous there?

Here are some more - the heads are all at the same height, here less than 500mm.

Not site lights - they are at a metre or less above track level. Near Euston there are some less than half a metre above the track. They are permanently accommodated, with concrete footings and conduited wiring. There can be 20 or thirty in a row. What's a Spad beacon? Do you need a large...

Apologies for the poor picture, but I wonder if someone could satisfy my curiosity regarding these very common trackside installations. As they occur in large regularly spaced groups and seem to have some optical components, I have wondered for a long time what it is they do.