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16  Journey by Journey / Plymouth and Cornwall / Re: Engineering work to close St Ives branch Jan to Feb 2021 on: January 17, 2021, 12:26:29
Re the two photos above.

What a Nightmare for the tamper operator.  Shocked Shocked
17  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Cancellations, sending passengers the long way round, then charging them more! on: January 10, 2021, 17:58:49
I?ve come to this party a bit late because I?ve been thinking about it and, as the thread has split into two separate examples I will look at both

On the Melksham issue I have been struggling to think of any other examples where two relatively main lines with a major junction at one angle of the triangle also have a secondary line with a less frequent service joining the other two angles. Perhaps somebody else can think of one?

The issue, as I understand it, is with the journey planner only, although presumably it would also affect other online booking engines. Logically, these systems must work by referring to the restriction codes which are built into the system for all trains. So if you tell the system that you want to go from X to Y at a given time the system would identify the route(s), identify the train(s), and then apply the restriction codes that apply to those trains and give you a price.

It would be a relatively easy matter to knock a train out of the system due to cancellations, but it would be a very different matter altogether to build a temporary easement into the system. I certainly wouldn?t like the job of writing such a programme, so I can easily understand why GWR (Great Western Railway) are not committing themselves to resolving this!

GWR and no doubt other TOCs (Train Operating Company) are usually good at allowing temporary easements although I did once have an experience of them failing to tell their staff about it. This was when Box Tunnel was closed for electrification work and there were notices at Chippenham to say that Bristol and beyond tickets would be valid via Swindon for the duration. An issue arose on the way back when a TM(resolve) told me I was on the wrong train half way up Filton bank, but that was easily resolved!

They also appear to be good at refunding the fare difference when one has to pay a higher price. My example was a through ticket from any GWR station to the WSR when the Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttle was running. Staff couldn?t find the ticket on the system at Chippenham so I had to buy separate tickets for the three legs (CPM» (Chippenham - next trains)-TAU» (Taunton - next trains), the shuttle and the WSR). After I sent in my claim I get a refund of the difference within a week. Anyone who was overcharged for a via Bath ticket when trains via Melksham were not running should get a similar refund, but that would of course rely on those people knowing they had been overcharged.

Re Melksham to Swindon via Bath spa,
other examples Melton Mowbray to Loughborough via Leicester.
Northallerton to Middlesborough via Darlington.
Troon to Auchinleck via Glasgow.



18  All across the Great Western territory / Diary - what's happening when? / Re: Selecting Devon and Cornwall destination(s) for day trip(s) on: January 10, 2021, 16:29:47
I put Okehampton as Number 1, the sooner Okie is back on the National Rail system the better.

Saying that the Trip to Gunny (Gunnislake) is the best scenic branch in the south west and Calstock an abfab place to visit (when the sun is out).
19  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Might train services be cut from May? on: January 10, 2021, 16:24:39
On questions such as this we can speculate all we like, but it is always best to base forecasts on observed and observable trend, and not crystal ball gazing.



The factors that will affect rail travel demand in future are many and various:

4 With the alternatives to the internal combustion engine that we currently have available, long distance motoring is likely to become less attractive. For example, even a car with a 300 mile battery range would need a long stop somewhere to recharge on a London to Glasgow run.

The answers to 1 and 2 cannot yet be predicted. We can speculate and we might think we know the answer, but right at this moment we don?t know we know. We will have to wait and see.

The changes due to 4 will probably see an increase in public transport use. The jury is out over whether rail, coach or air travel will reap the most benefit, as in essence that will involve individual choices to be made between cost, desire for speed and the reason for travel.



I believe that as Private car driving goes more and more 100% electric, the option for long distance driving will fall off the cliff, Driving fast in an electric Car will decrease the range by around 50% (depends just how fast), whilst the Manufacture will quote 250mile range that's at 27MPH average.
Zooming up a Motorway at 75MPH or more, very frightening to run out of juice and no juice equals no lights Shocked
Of course you will be able to take an hour's break whilst rapid charging the battery but be warned that rapid charging will depending just how rapid will deplete battery life by around 0.5 to 1% so by the time a Battery has been rapid charged 50 times the range of the battery will have fallen from 250miles to around 200 miles,
Treat a Battery kindly by giving slow overnight charge every time and the battery should outlast the car.
20  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Railway History and related topics / Re: Final run of the travelling post office, 9th to 10th January 2004 on: January 10, 2021, 16:04:08
In the early hours of Jan 10th 2004 I was up extra extra early and drove to Hayle station to click a few pictures of the Bristol Parkway to Penzance TPO (Travelling Post Office) which stopped at Hayle to unload Mail for the Hayle and St Ives areas.
I think it was due off Hayle at 06:10 or thereabouts.
Besides being surprised by the amount of Mail unloaded, I remember the staff on the platform clapping and cheering as the train left, this was the VERY LAST departure of a working TPO as all the other TPOs were due to finish before 06:00.

The Penzance to Bristol Parkway TPO was the most traveled TPO stock in the country, whilst other TPOs traveled such distances as London (well Stonebridge Park) to Glasgow, the Penzance-Bristol Parkway TPO made a RETURN journey overnight and as the empty stock came from (and returned) St Blazey  this added roughly another 100 daily miles.
21  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles on: January 03, 2021, 16:20:32
Come on, the Irish had the best ever third rail system on the Listowel and Ballybunion Railway.
What a good name Ballybunion Cheesy

Say Lord Grahame, do you have any pictures.  Smiley
22  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Might train services be cut from May? on: January 03, 2021, 16:03:48
Well daily commuting will never return to pre-covid levels, this means peak hour extension of rolling stock won't be needed, (once Covid is no longer a major threat)
So stock that is laid up from around 09:30 to around 15:30 weekdays won't be needed at all, but this means that Electric stock that is already in use will become available to work on NEWLY electrified lines.
More Diesel units can go for scrap!

And with Government plans for all cars to be Electric cars in just 4 years, OK hybrid will still be allowed, I'm betting fuel duty will go UP in leaps and bounds,
And whilst all electric cars will be suitable for 90% of journeys, long distance journeys will be much slower than today.
Modern Electric cars might have a range of 200+ miles (but read the small print that's at an average speed of 27MPH.
Electric Cars aren't going to be belting up Motorways at 80MPH unless the driver wants to recharge for an hour around every hour and a half
23  All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Farewell to the Class 483s on: January 03, 2021, 15:36:56
Cracking good photographs.

But I'm bemused, back in 1967 the Island line, Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin was closed for some 3 months whilst the line was electrified, as former deep tube stock was to be used the tracks were also raised in the station platforms to avoid a large step down, also the track was raised in Ryde Tunnel to prevent problems with flooding and the third rail.
Question are the new class 484s Straight Electric or Bi Mode Battery and Electric, as if the trackbed needs to be lowered again in Ryde Tunnel won't flooding become an issue?
24  All across the Great Western territory / Media about railways, and other means of transport / Re: Fort William to Mallaig - documentary BBC 21:00 on 31.12.20 on: January 03, 2021, 14:29:57
Something awful happen to Bagpipes in 1996.

They were up to 1996, classified as a

Weapon of War Grin Grin Grin
25  All across the Great Western territory / Media about railways, and other means of transport / Re: Fort William to Mallaig - documentary BBC 21:00 on 31.12.20 on: January 02, 2021, 17:24:00
Bagpipes,  I hate Bagpipes, Cool
                I love Bagpipes  Cheesy

Let me explain. when reproduced on TV, Record player, CD (Capital Delivery) or any electrical appliance Bagpipes sound bad.

But when listened to directly IE as they are being played live, it's a sound that is wonderful. Smiley

Bagpipes just DON'T reproduce well. Angry
26  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon / Re: Holiday home in Torquay (Torre) anyone? - be aware of train noise on: January 02, 2021, 16:15:35
Be a right PIG to install any White Goods, furniture etc as it all needs humping over the footbridge. Wink
27  Journey by Journey / Plymouth and Cornwall / Re: Engineering work to close St Ives branch Jan to Feb 2021 on: January 02, 2021, 16:09:57
Heck of a lot of Steel sleepers in and along the line from Carbis Bay to St Ives.

I don't Understand the Quote from Rail Advent that this is the biggest investment in Track renewals in Cornwall since the 1950s, this relaying will extend the Continuously Welded Rail (CWR (Continuously Welded Rail)) laid from St Erth towards St Ives  that was installed about 4 years ago.
Would think the whole branch will be Continuously Welded Rail  (CWR) after work is completed, so if 1 1/2 miles is being done then 3 miles has ALREADY been relaid with Continuously Welded Rail  (CWR.)


Edit: VickiS - clarifying acronym
28  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Non-stop, North Pole to Pilning, 24.12.2020 on: December 28, 2020, 17:29:13
The Coal loaded was dropped off at Naughty Kid between Nitshill and Barrhead stations.  Grin Grin
29  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Christmas Day Trains? on: December 28, 2020, 15:34:34
Whilst 1C92 left St Erth for Penzance at 23:52 on Thursday 24th December 2020 this was closely followed by 1X01 (from real time trains) at 00:08 a service that called at a location called "Naughty Boy" to drop off coal.   Grin Grin
30  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Advent Quiz -Christamas eve 2020 on: December 28, 2020, 13:27:52
In YX space, F7 could once have departed platforms 15 and 16 except it is now missing its fourth rail shoe. There are several more, but there are rules ...

PS I see the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway makes two very brief appearances in that hornful, but yet tuneful, video.

I must have watched a different Vid, sure I spotted the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway SIX times.
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