Recent content by Townsend Hook

It does the freight-only line to Cwmbargoed, Ninian Park-Radyr and a couple of odd bits. The main bulk of the Valleys work is covered by class 37-hauled PLPR trains, all now done by Network Rail under contract to TfW since they were transferred ownership of the Valley Lines.

The 950 doesn't record the Valleys, they're covered by loco-hauled trains.

The recording equipment on the class 153 units is of a completely different generation to that on the 950. Obsolescence of the recording equipment is a stated reason for the 950's withdrawal. The 950 doesn't record the Cumbrian Coast - track geometry recording on that line is covered by class...

I never claimed there was any such organisation! Honestly..

Surely the argument can always be made for any public sector organisation to skimp on pay because ‘there’s only so much money and we can better spend it on x, y and z’. Network Rail isn’t special. Classic ‘race to the bottom’ mentality. If the company genuinely cannot afford to pay another...

I know - that was a specific reference to the previous poster’s comment.

Not since 220018 ‘Dorset Voyager’ ran through to Swanage for it’s naming ceremony about twenty years ago… Safe to say there won’t be any kind of business case for XC effectively bolting on a local tourist service onto the end of a long distance route. There’s not likely to be much draw for...

I can tell you exactly why the payrise is likely to be rejected. The RMT’s request was a 5.3% raise which reflects the RPI in November 2023. So that would be, in real terms, breaking even - our salaries would increase to maintain our current standard of living and nothing more. Even with the...

The RMT are currently canvassing opinions on the revised pay offer via the local reps.

Probably GWR 1369 on it’s way from it’s home at the South Devon Railway to the Bluebell Railway for their upcoming Branch Line Weekend. https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/rolling-stock/locomotives/1369-gwr-0-6-0pt/

Although it did eventually gain two tracks on the lower deck! Albeit for trams rather than trains.

Indeed, unless it would demonstrably entice a significantly higher number of car drivers and/or people who would have otherwise not visited Purbeck than the bus alone, it would seem to be a complete waste to subsidise the DMU service sufficiently to make it competitive with subsidised bus routes.

Maybe that, and maybe also by late September the questionable air conditioning will be less of an issue if they do need to use the Mk2 set!

Theoretically formations up to eight-car can be turned via Hove, using the connection from Lovers Walk depot into Brighton platform 2. Obviously not for units in passenger service, and I doubt it's ever been used for a 700!

Possibly a first for a passenger service, but Colas’ power cars run regularly with Network Rail Mk1s and Mk2s on infrastructure monitoring trains.