This exciting event will feature a number of steam, modern and vintage locomotives, including the #springboardtrain and will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and the SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) Depot's 40th anniversary too. All proceeds to Springboard in our 30th year! Don't miss it!!

I'm pretty certain there is an overheight sensor and warning equipment on the western approach (i.e. coming from Mannington roundabout/John Lewis). I don't recall seeing any in the other direction (from the Dick Lovett side), and that's the way this truck was heading. I'll take a look at stupid-o'clock tomorrow as I pootle to the station.

They don't look like proper floodlights do they? The County Ground was equipped with lights early - 1951 - and there are loads of pictures from 1969 (the year Swindon won the League Cup) the show big square modern-looking banks of lights. And anyway, isn't the ground a bit too far from the station for two (or more) lighting mast to be that far apart?

They look more like industrial lighting to me, and quite likely a big goods/marshalling yard. Of course they've all gone now, so I've no idea where that one might have been.

PS:   Er, um ... that picture was of Wembley, of course, and I can't find one of the County Ground. But I still don't see a set of (probably) four stadium lights.

9 December 2015

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today started criminal proceedings against train operator West Coast Railway Company Limited (WCRC) and one of its drivers. The charges relate to breaches of Health and Safety Law which led to a train passing a signal warning at danger on 7 March 2015.

The prosecutions follow ORR^s investigation into an incident involving a steam locomotive operated by WCRC, which passed a signal at danger near Wootton Bassett junction, Wiltshire. This extremely serious incident resulted in the train coming to a stop 550 metres after the signal, across a busy junction on the Great Western main line, directly in the path of high speed trains.

The train^s driver is facing charges under section 7(a) and 8 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). This relates to his alleged intentional misuse of the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System)) equipment. ORR^s investigation found that the driver directed a colleague to turn off this essential safety system, designed to apply an emergency brake if the driver makes an error.

WCRC is separately facing charges under section 3(1) and 2(1) of the HSWA. This is on account of its alleged failure to implement managerial controls, procedures, training and monitoring to prevent staff turning off the TPWS equipment.

ORR has been closely monitoring WCRC^s operation since this incident. ORR has also today launched a review of WCRC^s safety certificate, which is needed to operate its trains on the rail network.

Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways at ORR said:

^The safety of staff, volunteers, passengers and members of the public is our absolute priority. ^

^Britain^s railways have a good safety record. However, there have been a number of incidents over the past year involving West Coast Railway Company Limited trains. ^

^The incident at Wootton Bassett junction, where a WCRC train passed a signal at danger, was caused by alleged intentional misuse of a key safety system. This could have easily led to a catastrophic train collision. ^

^ORR inspectors are working with the rail industry, in particular the mainline heritage sector, to ensure that lessons are learned, and public safety is not put at risk.^

The first hearing is due to take place at Swindon Magistrates' Court on 11 January 2016.

The enforcement action, which the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) says is to protect the safety of its staff, volunteers, passengers and members of the public, follows an initial investigation into an incident near Doncaster on 2nd October 2015, which found staff on-board LMS^▸ (London Midland Scottish - 1923 to 1948) 'Black 5' No. 45231 had turned-off its Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) isolation equipment, designed to apply an emergency brake if the driver makes an error.

An ORR spokesman said: ^ORR will not allow the company to run trains where there are not effective controls in place for key safety systems. The regulator is working with the company to make the required improvements before services resume.^

Railway Herald understands that the prohibition notice comes into force from 23:00 on 24th November and does not affect diesel operations, which can continue to operate.

Mayflower to operate to Minehead

Since the story broke, it is understood that WCR has been actively working with the Office of Rail and Road to resolve the issues, and it is now understood that the ORR has passed LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) 'B1' No. 61306 Mayflower for operation on the main line, meaning that the trip on 26th November to Minehead should proceed as planned, steam-hauled. Railway Herald also understoods that WCR are seeking agreement with the ORR for a second locomotive to be passed as well.

The ORR says that any modifications to the TPWS isolation equipment would need to be rolled-out to the entire steam fleet that is operated by WCR before the prohibition notice could be lifted.

At present, the status of other tours over the coming days is unknown. At present, they would have to use Mayflower, be diesel-hauled or rescheduled.