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Post by spsmiler on Dec 19, 2023 13:15:13 GMT
Perhaps ... because there are more westbound destinations whilst eastbound everything (usually*) follows the same route, even if some trains stop short of the ultimate destinations.
*) From this station District trains to High Street Kensignton are very rare.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 19, 2023 12:51:55 GMT
This film references some of what taylor said about Karlsruhe - I am still to make the film which shows the tram-trains sharing tracks with 175mph ICE trains, other InterCity trains and container trains. However, what this film shows is enough - the German Railways was short of trains for local services so for a year or so in circa 1991 they used tramtrains on the local service, and to their surprise even noted an increase in passenger numbers. As an aside, the Central line to Epping and Newbury Park via Woodford did something similar, albeit with fewer mainline trains; possibly also the Northern line to High Barnet and Edgware via Finchley Central and if I am right East Finchley station still has smoke baffles (for steam trains) on the underside of a footbridge over the central pair of tracks As I've said before, in some respects our mainline railways here in the UK are far behind the times when compared with best practise overseas.. But we are catching up, with a new digital signalling system being introduced on the tube line between Moorgate and Finsbury Park - something which might yet become relevant to the Bakerloo line's track sharing north of Queens Park. The Victoria line has already shown how trains with different automated signalling systems can use the same tracks.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 15, 2023 18:31:15 GMT
Blue for priority seat does not look good when other seats are red. Grey and red go together well - not blue and red.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 14, 2023 10:26:07 GMT
Bakerloo peak-hour services continued to Watford Junction until 1982, after the Jubilee Line opened in 1979. Just four trains each peak 'hour' - towards London in the am peak and Watford in the pm peak.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 14, 2023 10:21:31 GMT
I know that I saw and filmed these trains - both whilst in passenger service and when on exhibition at Woodford - but am unsure if I actually got to ride them.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 11, 2023 23:00:07 GMT
Its good to see these actually entering service ... just await Tyneside now.
btw, how long before the old Glasgow Subway trains have been replaced?
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 11, 2023 11:46:10 GMT
Would have cost more... but from a point of view of transport integration, connectivity with more of the UK, (etc) it would have been a very good idea.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 11, 2023 11:43:51 GMT
Has the new train been out in service since its debut, or was it just a public launch thing and back into works again? Was it out all day, or just a couple of trips? The launch day was a for one return trip. I think it has been out since, but perhaps only for one mid-morning return trip at a time
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 10, 2023 21:56:05 GMT
Subject to having enough rolling stock and platform capacity at OOC this should be easily accomplished - just extend all the trains that currently terminate at Paddington.
Maybe also send some trains beyond OOC but that is a different issue.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 10, 2023 21:50:13 GMT
I went to the exhibition, said hello to Tim, saw this layout - its superb ... the level of detail is fantastic. Oh and all in 2mm fine scale, which means that everything is very, very small.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 9, 2023 17:42:25 GMT
eek, the flowers might be nice but do they really go well with such a moody, even brooding, dark blue background?
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 9, 2023 17:38:36 GMT
Oh well, what seemed like a good idea has been proven unworkable
Thanks anyway for the replies.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 9, 2023 17:35:38 GMT
Thanks Chris.
Possibly catching one or several buses will shorten the interchange time, but alas catching buses breaks OSI fares - although in what to my eyes looks like 'double standards' catching a train (of any ownership) as part of a multi-modal journey does not break the bus / tram Hopper fares.
Anyway, as you suggest, this wont be an OSI and wont be a viable interchange.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 8, 2023 22:17:59 GMT
The new Thamelink Brent Cross West opens this coming Sunday, how practical will it be to walk between here and Brent Cross shopping centre - and between this station and Brent Cross Northern line station?
Also, will the two Brent Cross stations be an OSI (out of station interchange)?
Simon
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 8, 2023 22:14:28 GMT
I suppose that wheel profiles prevent these being delivered by train via the Channel Tunnel?
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 8, 2023 22:11:32 GMT
I was pleased to see Gants Hill in his list (my home station since I started travelling to school by train in 1971) ... but I would prefer it if the barrel roof was painted sky blue and given fluffy white clouds. ie: make it seem as if we are actually at an open air station.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 8, 2023 22:05:14 GMT
Certainly this happened on the Great Western Main Line with an Elizabeth line train stranded for at least four hours - by when the battery lights had extinguished. I do not know if any other trains were affected.
I find it somewhat alarming that the batteries were unable to power the lights for the entire duration. As upset as passengers were I can imagine them being even more upset had this happened below ground, with the passengers facing being in pitch black.
Or do the tunnels have emergency lighting? - Ideally fed from several sources with redundancy in case one circuit failed.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 22:01:43 GMT
I've seen a photo on Facebook of unit 88 on the back of a lorry at South Mimms last Friday, but that is the unit reported as being converted to a dedicated depot shunter, so may not be headed for scrap. A works vehicle ... added interest for future railway modellers!
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 21:57:56 GMT
After the Bakerloo stopped serving Watford Junction I feel sure that there was a time when the Bakerloo more or less ended at Queens Park, but then the new depot at Stonebridge Park started becoming a destination.
The enforced change at Queens Park was not liked. Especially in the winter. Off-peak BR trains were every 20 minutes and this was too infrequent to attract passengers.
The fact is that many passengers like through trains to Euston. Its the quickest way to Central London and the existing tube services to further destinations are very good. But, many other passenger prefer the one-seat solution, and for destinations served by the Bakerloo it might even be quicker than interchanging at Euston. Even if it isn't, some passengers are willing to accept longer journey duration as a price of retaining the 'one seat' solution.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 7, 2023 21:46:15 GMT
I watch many of them, he is making something like two a week (maybe even more?) its nice to have the time.
Actually, part of the reason why I'm not making as many films myself nowadays is that I'm updating my 'Railfanning London's Railway web pages. Hopefully these will be online at the end of this month. Also, I'm (very slowly) modelling a tube station diorama.
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 3, 2023 11:50:33 GMT
I thought I might add a short film to this thread - of course its on topic - I hope this is OK
1962 RAT train calls at Roding Valley - I get to peek inside part of the train.
I found it better to film the hoppers from a short distance away, rather than standing right next to the train's windows.
The leaf fall sequence was filmed from a bridge near to Newbury Park station ... it was totally unexpected (but much welcomed)
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Post by spsmiler on Dec 3, 2023 11:41:06 GMT
Queen's Park would allow dedicated platform heights but loss of easy interchange, Willesden Junction would allow level interchange in both directions. Why would there be a loss of easy interchange at Queens Park? LU and LO trains already have dedicated cross-platform interchange here.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 28, 2023 12:51:22 GMT
This post link maybe links with the idea that the Bakerloo line upgrade should also be a Watford Junction branch service rationalisation. A larger fleet of 2024TS could cover a Bakerloo Euston branch service, using some of the present Overground stabling to relieve Stonebridge Park depot. This would allow level platform access at all stations served, with no mixed stock. But will tube and mainline trains be allowed to share tracks in the Euston station area? At present one pair of tracks is actually dual electrified (3rd rail and overhead wire) because they are used by both Overground and London Midland (London NorthWestern? or whatever its called today) trains. Passengers expressly want to retain through trains to Euston - some would also like through trains to Stratford!
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 28, 2023 12:42:53 GMT
Had Beeching not closed the GC route there would probably have been more BR (Chiltern etc) trains using the London Underground fast tracks, even if only for semi-fast services to Nottingham (etc) whilst the crack expresses would have continued to travel via the New North Main Line.
In the present era the planned reopening of the East - West (Oxford - Cambridge) service is just one aspect of a wider range of planned enhancements and whilst the Oxford - Cambridge services will not use any of the LUL tracks it might be that other services travel this way.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 26, 2023 23:50:55 GMT
Indeed, with all off-peak Met trains being all-stations and line speed limits lower than they used to be the present-day timetable almost negates the cost : benefit value of the funds spent four tracking Harrow - Moor Park.
It does not help that BR services no longer run beyond Aylesbury Park, but that is a different story.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 26, 2023 23:22:03 GMT
The Mersey Railway had switchable 3rd rail / 4 rail trains. The 4th rail was used when travelling in the tunnel below the river Mersey. Based on comments I vaguely recall reading I think it was the guard who moved a knife blade (return via wheels / via 4th rail) switch whilst called at Birkenhead Park station. (I'm too young to know for sure.)
I cannot imagine such an arrangement being acceptable today - but perhaps some sort of remote control switch could be devised.
As for the jointly operated service, I think that its quite simple, passengers appreciate the options. Euston is faster but Elephant trains (with their one-seat possibility) perhaps easier. Broad Street was great for the City but especially after the Great Northern Electrics started running from Highbury & Islington to Moorgate BR wanted passengers to change trains to this route and started to run down the Broad Street service. (Trains at less convenient times, often cancelled, etc)
As an aside, the service to Broad Street was quite slow. In the 1980s I often used the route from Hatch End and it took ages. I thought that at one time there were faster trains (from Tring?) but maybe they were lost when longer-distance services out of Euston were electrified.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 24, 2023 17:42:43 GMT
Maybe its me but the seat fabric design is almost psychedelic.
That said, its still far better than Barman blue and also with its London Transport Bullseye / TfL Roundel motif in the design has a hint of 1930s / 1940s seat fabrics which were (in my pov) better on the eye than some later seat fabric designs.
Alas, I did not get to see the refurbished train - I found out its timing elsewhere but I have commitments to other people and at such short notice was simply not able to leave home before midday.
However just in case it made multiple trips I did go to Hainault, and for my delight (sic) was able to watch the shuttle train departing platform 1 as my train entered platform 3. After a very long wait (much longer than usual) the next shuttle arrived but I feel sure that it was the same train that I had seen departing (it had unusual sticker mark on the cab front) and not the refurbished train.
Based on my observations I think that the Hainault Woodford shuttle has been on a 30 minute frequency using a single train - several times today when I passed through stations I saw that the electronic information boards were saying that there were severe delays on this route.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 23, 2023 22:16:04 GMT
That rumour is correct however the Forum Rules prevent specific details Hmm, full passenger service? All day... or at least until it throws a wobbly and disgraces itself (hopefully not) I might just invest in a paper ticket, go somewhere in Z1 with an island platform and hope that it passes by. I wont have a full day, but hopefully it will take (at most) only a few hours of waiting.
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 21, 2023 15:52:48 GMT
More reversing capacity at Harrow & Wealdstone (reinstating second reversing bay) might be easier
The second Willesden bay has been lost to customer passenger amenities - food outlet, toilets
Which other station could have a bay (ideally centrally located) added? The proximity of the four AC tracks alongside the DC New lines makes life awkward
btw, if the second bay platform at Willesden Junction was reinstated then a better option would to rebuild the platforms to make all four of them suitable for through trains, with one each per direction dedicated to each of the services (Overground / Underground). The track heights could then be adapted to facilitate full accessibility (perhaps only at certain doors on services that use the outer pair of platforms).
Its a shame that the proximity of the AC tracks prevents more shared stations being made accessible in this way
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Post by spsmiler on Nov 20, 2023 15:09:32 GMT
we need timed trials of station departures - I bet that even through these have longer length trains they will still be faster than the trains on the also fully ATO Northern line
Piccadily and Bakerloo lines should not be included as they still have older trains, are not ATO enabled and especially in the case of the Piccadilly the trains are still derated* to prevent them from accelerating as quickly as their true design permits
*(other less kind words come to mind as well)
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