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Like many lines, GCR crews have been operating engines incredibly carefully. All the engines operating are spark arrestor fitted, and being mostly larger locos they don't have to be worked as hard. There have been some fires on the GC, as on most lines still using steam - mostly small sleeper...

Would at least need to be in light steam for the lubrication systems to work. Serious risk of bearing damage at speed if not. Which is disruptive and expensive!

And they're doing it again, thereby releasing stock to fill other holes but leaving Mansfield without meaningful (or any) service. Shameful, it's probably once again the largest town in the country without passenger rail service. Sooner P coding is abolished the better (but i am not holding my...

It's a bit like the curate's egg: good in parts, bad in parts. On LNER (afaik uniquely) the tray tables extend to be able to support a laptop properly, which was a welcome innovation. That said i do prefer a real table whenever possible, and usually get one. Other stock with airline seats are...

The SPT gives a signaller an absolute fix on the driver’s location, to the exact signal post (although it may serve multiple lines, the options are limited). A mobile phone requires extra conversation to confirm the train location which represents an extra risk of misunderstanding. Therefore...

Only last week in disruption on the ECML a driver reported on this forum working over 14h to get back to Newcastle. About 30 crew slept in a unit at PBO, well, if they could.... When the sh*t hits the fan most crews still step up and do their best to help.

Point of pedantry: half voltage means 1/4 (not half) power if the same resistance... This is also done for Belgian 3kV dc trains running from Anvers to Roeselare just over the Dutch border. Holland uses 1kV5 so they roll into Roeselare quite slowly, albeit under power. As an aside, the Belgian...

A loco in steam, even light steam, has lubrication provided to the cylinders and some other motion parts by the steam lubrication system. This allows it to be operated at normal speeds even if not actually providing power. A loco 'cold' usually has to be dragged at low speed and with close...

Sadly, I hear from a S&T source that the Newark area and the Lincoln line in particular are a hotspot for cable theft at the moment. Apparently very organised gang(s), working rapidly to cut and haul away the cable, often the 650V main. Very expensive and disruptive for the railway and...

Well, a bit like it, Tacoma Narrows was a wind induced resonance. In this case the wire is damped but maybe not enough for the middle pan to avoid bounce, which leads to arcing or worst case the pan being tangled, maybe pulled off. All undesirable, so running slower is preferred over...

Single line working over a relatively short sections is a benefit of traditional Absolute Block betwen signalboxes (if crossovers are kept in place). Needs a pilotman for trains, and a person qualified to apply point clips at each end for the crossover move. Maybe a handsignalman. So extra...

For those who may have been concerned, I've been informed that the volunteer in question was not significantly injured, and is now fully recovered and well. A reminder to all: especially in/after wet and cold weather, wooden steps can be slippery. Take care, hold the handrails (where provided)...

Unable to book tickets through 3 unrelated sites tonight (LNER, EMR, Trainsplit), for last 2 hours. I'm guessing it is a central service failure;get an error at reservation stage. Anyone else having similar issues? I lnow there was a power outage in the Wellingborough area... could bd elsewhere...

Oh, i suspect this wasn't "missed", it was likely deliberately "deprioritised" as a cost saving: sidings and shunt routes don't get seem to get much maintenance unless unavoidable. Speeds are low, no passengers involved (except the disruption), only shunt moves & not even freight involved, so...

Good to see 1A71 appears to be on the move again, hopefully not as bad as you initially feared. Worst case you get terminated early somewhere and have to join 1A73 (currently the other side of Westbury), a little way behind.

NRE reports point failure between Alnmouth & Berwick. Presumably related to the reversing Northern ECS. If the crossovers won't detect N or R then nothing moving either way. Is it perhaps snowing there? Can block points...

By all the reports I have heard, the Standard 2s have proved excellent and economic performers on the GCR. Well suited to the line and traffic. I suspect another one won't be a problem!

Sad to hear, but also necessary for many lines to do serious maintenance on their heritage infrastructure in the "off" season.

Well you used Trainline. If you want the most accurate information then use National Rail (nb not always right, but far closer). Lost count of the number of times I have seen people with materially wrong info - up to and including tickets sold for trains they are not valid on - issued by...

Thanks for adding that @LowLevel. I am informed that the GCR most closely follows GC/LNER practice, except where more modern standards are required for safe working. There are double yellow capable colour light distants like you mention at Swithland (up), Quorn (dn & up), Loughborough (dn)...