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I may be completely wrong about this, but I think the use of bats may have started (on the WR anyway) at Bath Spa, where they were found useful due to the curvature of the platforms.

I cannot recall when or in what form I heard this story, but I believe that one July day in about the 1950s, all traffic through Cheltenham had to stop when a swarm of bees invaded Lansdown Junction Signal Box. John Prytherch.

I’m very pleased that Charfield station is reopening, and that construction is under way, although in my present state of health near the end of this life, I am unlikely to be able to use it. I wish everyone well with all of the associated or other nearby timetabling and traffic management...

What does "MPV" stand for please?

The Exeter West Group newsletter recorded, some time ago, an incident with Mike Hayman, former signaalman at Cowley Bridge Junction. One dark winter morning, having cycled to work as usual, he left his bicycle, as usual, at the foot of the box steps, but unfortunately left its rear red lamp lit...

Standish Junction (Gloucestershire) Standish Junction near Wigan (if it was not too near Standish Station)

I know very little about the technology of funiculars, so please forgive me if I'm writing rubbish. But I have wondered, does this Lisbon system have, or could it have, magnetic brakes? Would one or more magnetic brakes be enough to hold the vehicle stopped on that steep incline? I believe...

What does DRA stand for please?

Bersham Cricket Club was beside an embankment carrying the Rhos (Rhosllanerchrugog) branch near Rhostyllen. The track was still in place c.1961 when I had to watch my brother playing in a cricket match there. No trains came unfortunately. My imagination’s hoping that something would come...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg17g39x41o This is just to confess my ignorance on a most basic point, which I am sure Forum members will be able to clarify. Is a blast furnace (however heated) essential to the making of rails? Does the entire rail industry depend on at least one being...

I have not done any travelling since having a stroke last July, but I believe the Middle Siding at Wolverhampton High Level (between Platforms 1 and 2) is still wired and live although the track was lifted some years ago. I think it still has the nice big insulators, larger than those on the...

Skelton Junction to Arpley Junction July 1985.

The Crewe and Chester line is, I think, one of those built by Thomas Brassey. Of the approximately 40 overbridges, I think most are his originals, still in good condition and visually attractive, and they give the line much of its character. Whether they are listed, I don't know. But I think...

I am just a little concerned by this. Over the weekend 2 - 5 February I stayed at the Premier inn opposite Dalston Junction and a short way to the right, across the road. I am not disabled but am a very overweight barrel of a man, with a top speed only a little above the top speed of a...

Northampton, south end of station.

It seems quite a good idea to put this bull (which looked very impressive when it was near the Library tram stop) into the New Street concourse. But I hope that someone knows its weight, and that we can be assured that the concrete floor on which it will stand will be strong enough to support...

In 2019 I was on a train that used the up loop.

I have not yet tried the London and North Western at Birmingham New Street. But I did notice that it is on the extreme Midland side of the station (over platforms 10 - 12 I think).

I agree that it seems that the 15 coach Voyagers were probably the longest dmu formations run in post-BR times. Strictly demus of course. I always thought that 12 cars was the maximum possible length of combinations of conventional, vacuum braked dmus. But, in Paul Chancellor's RCTS book...

1656272825 There's an excellent article "DC to AC" by Eric Stuart in the September 2021 issue of British Railways Illustrated (Vol 30 No 12) at pp.520-527. It covers much of the ground in this thread including the GE and LT&S changeover dates. As well as some general electrification history. Its...