Recent content by Wyrleybart

Absolutely. We thought the class 800 introduction was a bit of a farce but that was a cakewalk compared to the 810s, Having said that EMR and DfT walked right into it, what with running a around six diagrams a day of flawed trains, whilst other units everywhere except carrying passengers...

And 80079 from the SVR too, IIRC both 79 and 80 worked on the Cambrian festivities. Here is a nice Martin Loader piccie of the pair at Cockwood Harbour http://www.hondawanderer.com/80079_80080_Cockwood_Harbour_1994.htm Also don't forget that 80064 at Paignton received air brake equipment for...

A while ago I heard from a professional steam driver that 70000 had problems with its axleboxes / hornguides in that the loco could not "sit down" and run reliably. Whether that was successfully resolved I have no idea.

This takes me back to 1988 when I was led into buying my first car an old Mini 850. Obviously a Friday afternoon vehicle anyway, but when I came to change one of the front wheels I discovered that one of the four studs had been superglued on - presumably after a fracture.

I was on a 170+153 combo on a train from Rugeley to Birmingham New St which divided three times !! I got on the 153 at Landywood which was trailing the 2 car 170. Everything went well until we tried to cross Slow to Fast at Pleck Junction when the 170 left us behind. The driver walked back...

Yes 810010 810011 and 810016

Undoubtedly a big job and I wouldn't try to lighten it. But I had always wondered whether buying s relatively "empty" loco might be a viewed as a bonus. You have to refurbish the machines inside anyway so is it easier to repair the structure and frames the rewire and replumb the systems then add...

If 810015 hadn't had the TPWS intervention at Elstow then two more of EMR's fleet would have been in traffic today.

This really is bonkers. How on earth these things are still in traffic rather than parked up at Merchant Park sidings is beyond me. EMR and DfT dropped a proper clanger by accepting trains into passenger service with a whole snag list of faults. A new train like the 810 - one which is quite...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but DfT should not have concocted their very expensive 2x5 car plan and just specified around 25 9 car "super 805s". 25 of these would have 50 cabs full of very expensive kit and couplers, whereas 33 5 car 810s have 66 cabs and couplers with all the attendance...

More coaches would obviously allow more trains to run but then you would need to "cube" the number of footplate and support crews needed. Ou would also need a huge increase in passengers prepared to hand over their wonga to ride such trips. Where is 45231 at the moment ? Did it go to Margate ...

AIUI all AT300s were expected to need corrective welding and I notice 800102 has recently moved to Eastleigh. No idea how many have been done so far. Some folk have long memories, particularly rail enthusiasts who particularly remember farces like the TPE CAF mk5s, the £30m wasted on...

Wouldn't disagree with returning the 810s to Hitachi but.... EMR are happily trying to use six in service everyday. If they are that poor / unsafe / rubbish then they would not be coming off Etches Park every morning. Ansaldo Breda had a terrible reputation for train building and DfT should...

I have to disagree. The TfW class 158s numbered 24 but two are long term stored after the Talerddig accident. They were a core fleet for the Cambrian operations but also run to Birmingham / Holyhead / Cardiff etc. Trying to pin a number on what is a small fleet of trains is not relevant...

And I remember talking to a since-retired WCR driver who was brought up on 8Fs as a young hand, and who worked the 8F from Rugby to Southall via Willesden and Acton. His words back then were "even though it was "starred" it was still as rough as *uck on the Slow lines between Rugby and Roade at...