Recent content by WAO

Look beyond any border, whether of Scotland, Wales or Ireland, and you'll see batteries AND electrification. WAO

But DART has batteries for the shorter Malahide - Drogheda stretch, wires proposed elsewhere, with 90mph BEMU's (and only 13/19 with batteries), not 110mph sets. Trickle charged batteries reduce peak grid demand but still must have high discharge rates via 25kV (UK). I wonder whether direct dc...

Hull has the Hull South Substation (132kV) and Scarborough also has one on the Queen Margaret industrial estate, both with a mile or two from their termini, and both with space in or next to the compounds. We shall see where current practice is going. WAO

The ordering of TPE units (MR October) gives an insight to the balance between batteries and OLE. The new units are (IIRC) 5 car, with about 1250kWhr of batteries. These are to service off-wire places such as Scarborough, Hull, Tessside, about 25 - 35 miles from the wires. However, it is stated...

The BR structures are elegant because the cantilever has been designed to reflect the shear stress and bending moment diagrams. It is therefore tapered - not expensive to fabricate. Because a slim beam is quite sufficient, it requires less bracing and a slimmer post, all of which is both...

So no ambiguity. WAO

Didn't note my source for the speed but as the SA says 50, it's 50. That still suggests a junction indication on the slow of double yellow or flashing yellow, rather than a true distant (for a red). WAO

Like COVES at Finmere. Such small vulnerable private enterprises are usually destroyed by the sluggardly pace of bureaucracy. Ideally they should be accommodated proactively, before proceedings start, avoiding the conflict, delay (and on costs). Merrie England. WAO

I think that describes the situation exactly. A single yellow used to mean that you passed it at perhaps 25/30mph, ready for a red, which came into view long before action was needed. But at Elstow, the Ladder speed is 55mph, after which the next signal may be in view for possibly distracted...

I do understand this. My point is that it risks "reading through", a problem on long straights where multiple signals are in view. Normal circumstances are not the best for judging safety systems. I am not speculating about the late driver's actions. WAO

That's fine for train crew but does it help the panel? What worries me is the 810 stopped underneath a clear signal, which, being higher up, might have been seen before the standing train appeared and so would be easy to "read through". A signal should be red if any part of its section is...

Axle counters? WAO

1. Most journeys are out and back. 2. Terminating services on TfL etc all thin out towards the end. Try a down 8 car Waterloo train after Winnersh or Earley. This is also wastefully true of the EL Paddington terminators which could be cut back further, although future extension to Old Oak...

?? No OP tickets valid on GWR services back in evening peak. "Extra" time avoids the change at Paddington, with poorer tube stock and links. WAO

The right hand arch would be called a stilted arch (i.e with straight, vertical sides). The left hand is probably also but with short stilts. WAO