This fascinating disused, and sadly moth-balled, funicular railway (the first underground funicular in the world) is hosting a couple of Open Days in 2010.

Sunday 25th April

Sunday 16th May

10am to 4pm both days.

Please note that for insurance reason children under 14 are not permitted.

Further information on the Clifton Rocks Railway can be found here.

"He was told he could not prove Ben was his son"

Um, maybe ask Ben who the man with him is. Get the answer "Daddy" in all likelihood.

Like you Btline, I got a bit angry at the sheer idiocy of this security guard.

Those two trains also arrive at CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) at the same time! Perhaps it's crowd control measures, moving pax from platform 3a to 3b!

Is this not more usually referred to as CPBC for modern mainline stock? CTBC is however used for London Underground stock.

CSR^▸ (Cab Secure Radio), RETB^▸ (Radio Electronic Token Block), CDU^▸ (Cab Display Unit)

Is it a Devon County Council run car park, or East Devon District Council?

Quite a lot of abbreviations in a train cab aren't there?

ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection), AWS^▸ (Automatic Warning System), TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System), DRA^▸ (Driver's Reminder Appliance ), DSD^▸ (Driver's Safety Device)..... any more?

What?!?! Is that a serious suggestion?

DSD^▸ (Driver's Safety Device)? Is that the foot treddle? What's DSD stand for?

Nope. Info only. Oh, and a good place to to report problems. I always seem to find the DSM hanging around in there!

As I said, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were getting to grips with the Class 180 fleet's peccadillos just as they went hither and thither. Splitting the small fleet to the four winds no doubt compounded the remaining problems.

Incidentally, top marks to the Train Manager who gave clear information over the PA^▸ (Public Address) regarding the delay and the reasons why the train would reverse after BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), using laymans terms. He then walked the train, answering pax questions about onward connections in South and West Wales.

A lady sat in front of me was concerned that she'd miss her connection to Milford Haven and subsequently face a 2 hour delay. I got chatting with her and learnt this was her first train journey for nearly 10 years. I offered advice with regard to claiming compensation and gave her a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) compo form that I happened to have on me.

As I left at BPW the TM^‡(resolve) was still busy liaising with Control regarding arranging onward road transport for pax travelling beyond Swansea who were likely to miss their connections and face a 2 hour wait for their next service.

I'd like to pass on praise to FGW for this TMs sterling customer service, but I neglected to get his name (I was distracted by a brand spanking Class 70 parked at BPW - God, they're ugly ). I've got the headcode for the service (1B40), but if anyone out there in coffeeshop land knows his name, then please PM me.... so much better to include a name in a praising e-mail.

I don't know what was the case with this particular service. The TM^‡(resolve) was still doing his normal rounds between SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) and BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains). Unsure as to whether another 'competent' person was up front, although there was a protracted staff meeting at the forward pointy end whilst we stood at SWI.

Thanks for that link, Welshman.

From the comments, it appears that Cambridgeshire has a history of interesting, white elephant, public transport ideas.

Forget stringing up the knitting on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line), lets revive this techology:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracked_Hovercraft

 

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