Recent content by Colin1501

I believe the reason for marshalling the REPs between the TCs in these conditions was to reduce snow ingress to the traction motors. The TCs would not have helped clear snow off the live rails as they didn't have pickup shoes. 1709399896 Not sure I understand the point about VEPs vs 455s. Both...

I seem to recall reading somewhere (not sure where) that commissioning of Cornwall resignalling has gone back to May 2025, meaning a short stay of execution for the boxes at Lostwithiel, Par and Truro. Anyone able to shed any more light on this? Thanks, Colin

Many years ago, I travelled from Winchester to London on a semi-fast service worked by a SWT 4-CEP unit. On the non-stop run from Basingstoke to Woking, the driver sounded the horn on the approach to each of the intermediate stations (Hook, Winchfield, etc). I never understood why, as we were on...

Marden, Kent, 4th January 1969. The 20.00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate (8-CEP) ran into the rear of a parcels train which had restarted from a signal stop following a track circuit failure. There were 4 fatalities. The 20.00 passed a single yellow and red with no reduction in speed, and the driver...

Thanks everyone - really helpful. The picture above in John Webb's reply, and Google streetview confirm it. I had a feeling it might be on the North Wales coast, but couldn't identify it. Colin

Thanks, but no. That doesn't have the straight sides to the lower part of the bore.

I wonder if anyone could identify this location for me. Very few clues, apart from what you can see in the picture. The train is a First North Western service, comprising a pair of Class 175 Coradia units. It's emerging from what looks like a short tunnel or covered way. We're on a double...

I've just caught the 14.15 Alton to Waterloo service. This was shown on the departure screens as departing from platform 2, which seemed odd as there is only one train an hour running today, and platform 1 doesn't require a trip over the footbridge from the station entrance. Open Train Times...

Thank you so much - that's really helpful. Interestingly, I'd ruled out Oakham earlier for some reason, but I can see it clearly now!

Many thanks, all, really helpful. Now, if I can be really cheeky, and ask for one more - how about this? A Central Trains Class 170/5, so sometime 1999 onwards. And a mechanically signalled location, judging by the point rodding and wire run down on the left hand side.

Any ideas where this is, please? Not a lot to go on, I'm afraid. The picture shows a Class 158 in 'early' Central Trains livery (with phone number rather than web address, so probably pre-2003/4), standing at a station with an enclosed footbridge. There appears at one time to have been a...

Thanks again to everyone for excellent detective work and enormously helpful replies, not just on location, but also narrowing down the date and the identity of the rear unit! Much appreciated!

Thanks for all the helpful replies - much appreciated. It wasn't where I was looking at all! Colin

Is anyone able to identify the location in this image, please? It shows a pair of Alphaline liveried Class 158 units, headed by 158 746, no destination blind visible. There is housing in the background, and an apparently unused - or little used - line going off to the left behind the train...

Thank you - very helpful.