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Quick question for the venerable and wise... Did any of you ever work with Mk II OLE? What were its advantages over MK I and disadvantages compared to MKIII? I did hear it being disparaged a long time ago, but was it poor design? Many thanks.

What is the OLE at new Long Marston test loop? It looks like Siemens but not a type that I've seen before. Is this going to be released for general use?

Question to those in the know... If APT had been accepted into full service all those years ago were there plans to immediately upgrade the MKIIIa OLE into something akin to today's UK1?

1) Was there ever a BS110 rail section, as opposed to the commonly used BS110a? 2) Why were the STC tubes in MKIIIa OLE angled so much?

With proposed plans for a 451 house development on the site of the old Clydesdale Steelworks in Mossend, is it time for a Mossend Station serving the - already densely populated - area between Motherwell and Bellshill? There would be plenty of room for remodelling and a station on the old...

Much was made of 'floating' the WHL over the boggier parts of Rannoch Moor using brushwood. Does the line still float or have successive generations of engineers eventually reached solid rock?

I've been following the various MKIII headspan replacement posts with some interest. Speaking as a headspan enthusiast rather than any kind of engineer or expert, I wonder if it wouldn't be possible to use a stiffer material to replace the headspan wires (which I believe are steel or copper) so...

Just looking at a 1:2500 map of the old Pinkston area of Glasgow around the canal area which was interlaced with a labyrinth of private sidings and associated works and wharfs, all feeding on to a common line. My question is - how were train movements organised? Would there be some co-ordinator...

In view of ever spiralling costs and the possibility that defence may soon be taking a greater fistful of the national wodge is it time to revert to the kind of robust, cheaper MKIII OLE seen on projects like Airdrie - Bathgate - Edinburgh for future schemes? I'm sure I've read that Series 1 and...

This (rather grainy) photo depicts a short neutral section in a tramway section of Mk3a OLE. I can recognise most of the elements but there are three things that I find puzzling. I wonder if I can ask any of the experts herein to explain? a) I take it this wire is top deal with any current...

From a rail's point of view, how fast are the following points on a loco wheel turning, assuming the loco is travelling at 100mph?... a) The contact point b) The longitudinal centrepoint of the axle c) The top of the wheel diametrically opposite the contact point.

See attached pic which shows an unorthodox method of filling a large expansion gap between two jointed rails. This utilises a chunk of 113a (rounded head) between lengths of 109 lb rail (flat head). Whilst what the photo depicts probably isn't entirely in keeping with normal main line practice...

Three questions... 1) Do wiring lengths ever have Tensorex at one end of the run and pulleys at the other? I ask because I have seen a new single pulley system in use on the WCML in the Polmadie - Cambuslang area of the WCML where there is also Tensorex and wonder if each end of the runs have...

Photo of the track at Busby on the East Kilbride line. What are these items bolted onto the sleepers? I take it they're to stop lateral track movement (note the plates embedded in the ballast), but I've never seen them before.

I'm sure I remember hydraulic tensioning being used (instead of the traditional weights) in certain locations when the WCML OLE was extended from Weaver Junction to Motherwell in 1973/74. I haven't seen any of these tensioners ofr many years and in fact I can't even find any online evidence that...

This is by way of a question to those of you who are at the sharp end. We currently have Series 1 and Series 2. As I understood it there was to be a development from both of these for use in new projects. Is this still happening? And as an aside, to what extent does/would aesthetic consideration...

If cost were removed from the equation, what would be the best material for rails? Given that resistance to wear and strength are important, what would do the job best? Depleted Uranium, Silver, Tungsten, pure Manganese?

The scenario... It's 2035 and battery technology (or mobile fusion or -ve strangelet reactors) is delivering exawatts to the traction motors with complete recharge times of less than 20 minutes. OLE is now redundant. There are only a few dewiring teams available so it's one line at a time. Which...