Recent content by Ty'n'wtre nr 2

Yes drivers can be given a movement authority by means of a written order dictated to the driver by the signaller. It's much more problematical if there is an issue with the fixed lineside equipment, eg, balises, or the radio transmissions.

There is a Department of the Environment profile for the sorts of contaminants that can be anticipated on railway land. It was published in 1995 but still quite useful. You might also expect to find heavy metals, possibly some of the older herbicides, creosote residues, lubricating oils and...

As Simon indicated the train did indeed run yesterday late afternoon. 44871 was heading the train with the diesel at the rear. As 44871 was heading in the normal direction (ie chimney first) it will be running that way to Pwllheli. I fully agree that it is a really nice day out on a scenic...

This crossing is nr 451 on the Cambrian route, all of which are looked after by the bobbies at Machynlleth box. It would be pretty difficult for them to monitor who is and isn't ringing up for permission to cross given the number of calls they must get on a daily basis. It would only really show...

Thanks for that OT. Well worth a pint.

At the moment they only seem to be used infrequently presumably for crew training. They either go as light engines or as pairs of light engines, although earlier in the year they were hauling a few NR liveried carriages around. I haven't seen them on the Cambrian main line for a week or so.

What are the rules concerning providing these guards? I have to use a UWC to cross with sheep and there are no guards fitted. I have asked for them and was told they would be provided when the line was relaid and the crossing reinstated. Needless to say the guards were never fitted and it takes...

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I am probably going to go via Newport as I haven't been down that way for ages. Might come back via London though. Help much appreciated and thanks once again.

Hi all I have to travel from Caersws to a Portsmouth Group station (not sure which one yet) on 29th May. I need to arrive by 3pm on the Saturday. I will be doing the return journey on the following day, ideally setting off late morning. I would appreciate any advice on best route/fare...

You don't see any cities the size of Koeln or Frankfurt in Wales. The populations of Cardiff (235,205 (2001)) and Swansea (229,100) are small compared to those two cities. As for mid Wales the population in Aberystwyth is around 12,000 with around another 8,000 students in University term time...

It's down to history, geography and geology. There are no significant mineral resources apart from the few lead mines such as Van and Dolifor, and a bit of maritime activity along the coast. The rest is predominantly agricultural although now forestry and ever increasing numbers of wind farms...

It will be for passing at spped as it's going to about 2.5 miles long. I went past about three weeks ago and the majority of the plain track is in place but it needs connecting at each end. They had started laying it when I used to travel daily by train and I haven't done that for nearly a year...

There's always a lot of talk about an hourly service on the Cambrian main line but I'll believe it when it happens. Building the dynamic loop at Welshpool seems to be taking an eternity and if the hourly service is dependant on getting ERTMS working well............ One bit of freight that...

Recent renewals on the Cambrian have used these steel sleepers. When they relaid through here recently they had a nifty machine for placing the steel sleepers. A hydrex loaded a pack into the hopper and as it ran along the steel sleepers were dropped out at roughly the correct spacings, ready...

There are still quite a lot of 60 foot lengths of bullhead rail on the Cambrian, old chairs and wooden sleepers, although recent renewals have been in CWR flat bottom rail. Some of the bullhead chairs are pretty ancient. The oldest I've got is dated June 1944. Many of those still in service are...