Great Western Coffee Shop

This has affected me as I was waiting for the 10:54 XC Glasgow Central Service from Liskeard, It's now 12:50 and it still hasn't arrived >:(

Anybody know whats gone up in flames...??

XC to Glasgow depart Liskeard 12.55 121 late. To be caped at Plymouth.

1S47 (XC Glasgow Central) Didn't arrive at Liskeard till about 13:30

TM told me it would coupled onto a Manchester Piccadilly Service.

Pax were told to take the 14:21 Service to Edinburgh Waverley if heading up North. This was a HST set ;D

A small rant if I may... :P Having been sat at Liskeard for the best part of 3 hours, to discover that XC have indeed withdrawn catering on the Penzance - Plymouth Route was really quite annoying! >:(

Displaced crew probably.

Problem was large gorse fires near Truro, most likely arson as there have been lots recently.

been like that for a while!

I knew it had been like that, it just slipped my memory... Until I got on the train...! :o

However I decided to hit Lloyds No1 Bar in Plymouth were a Tea was served to me in a china cup ;D No disrespect to the paper cups, as they are better than nothing... Although if I may recommend that FGW and XC take up what NXEC and WSMR do and use china cups, saucers and tea pots...! ;D

plus there's been a rail grinder working in Cornwall again,  thats usually good for starting fires here and there :-\

The fire was indeed started by said railgrider.

Be interesting to see who is penalised for the delays? It will keep the "bean counters" occupied for months sorting it out between the TOCs, Networkrail and the grinder operator.

Shouldn't the grinder have sheilds to stop the sparks flying about wildly and why was the gorse so close to the track?

A "Grange" would have done for the bushes before the got too big, even if the ganger hadn't burn't them off already. When you see photos of the 50s and 60s it is remarkable how little vegetation other than grass is visable in cuttings and on embankemnts.

Noticed the West Somerset have done some realy drastic scrub bashing and tree felling from  Bishops Lydard towards Wiiliton.

I thought some grinders have water sprays to prevent fires?

ive seen a video of a rail grinder at newton heath on an open day they do have water sprayers but not sure if its to prevent fires makes sence tho

They do have sprays and their own on board fire fighting cannons, a chap sits in the back to watch for such things aswell.
the grinder in use down here seems to be notorious for starting lineside fires, even with its skirts down to help prevent sparks but they still seem to fly everywhere.

I once saw the big grinder go through Reading on the middle road one night, and when it started grinding, we ran for cover on the platforms. It was one heck of a firework display. Also the noisiest machine I have ever heard on rails.

Sorry for the rail 101 Q!

Wots a "GRINDER"

What does it do

it improves the ride quality by restoring the original profile of the track, no points for guessing how this is achieved

Ok - so how often do these things need to run

You have a finite steel bar that is regularly ground down!  How long before the grinding causes it to have to be replaced!

Grinder = rail detroyer

i dont think its done that often, but it does prolong the life of the rails im going to pass this on to someone who knows more than me on the subject

Thanks, relex109!  ;)

Meanwhile, there's some background information in wikipedia, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_grinder .

It also reduces the risk of rail-breaks, by grinding out small surface cracks before they get a chance to grow to something larger and more dangerous.

Is there anything that isn't on that site?? :-)

Like what happened at Hadfield!

Hatfield. Hadfield is near Manchester.

is also known as Royston Vasey.  Not to be confused with Royston near Cambridge

Sorry I've got the DT's again. At least I knew what I meant.

And where does Royton Juntction fit in ?  ;D

(Graham ducks to avoid missiles chucked at him when he realses he is NOT posting in the Lighter Side!)