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  1. R

    Cobbs historical rail atlas

    Thanks! The spine of the fatter volume of my 2nd edition suffered a mishap at my hand but I’ve made what has so far proved to be an effective repair with invisible Sellotape.
  2. R

    Cobbs historical rail atlas

    Anyone know what the differences are between the second and third editions, other than the covers changing from green to red?
  3. R

    First Generation DMU Fires!

    Oh I didn’t realise that. There were always plenty of DMUs in the north-facing shed at Longsight, and South Manchester’s were generally better turned out than those operating in the North; see the posts regarding the Blackpool 104s. I had always assumed that the Buxton 104s were a type of...
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    First Generation DMU Fires!

    I never experienced a fire, but the Cravens units, which I particularly associate with the Sheffield area, always used to stink of exhaust fumes. Standards of maintenance varied significantly from depot to depot. The small fleet of 3-car 104s based at Longsight and solely used on the ex-LNW...
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    Pre-nationalisation schemes that never happened

    The greatest What If for me was the agreed merger of the GN, GE and GC in 1909 that got nixed by the government. A merged company would surely have been better placed to raise funds to make a start on London suburban electrification. I’m sure other mergers would have followed. Cooperation...
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    Greggs in Manchester Victoria.

    The tiny coffee shop that had previously been a barber’s did the best espresso in Manchester. Sorely missed, though the Victoria Tap provides some compensation. Edit: Java. The one just outside Oxford Road is still going.
  7. R

    Manchester Victoria - new pub on the station?

    Such a shame they can’t expand their empire by taking over the architecturally fabulous Station Buffet. Maybe one day…
  8. R

    West Croydon to Wimbledon

    I’ve not been on either for a long time, but I’d say absolutely not. Abbey is a rural branch. Wimbledon-W Croydon passed/passes through typical London suburbia; there are quite a few big green spaces, but e.g. the Hayes line has those as well. What made it so interesting was that the passing...
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    Trivia : Popular tube journeys requiring a change

    Quote from the DG blog: “Then it's North Greenwich to Canary Wharf and back again. It's only a one stop journey but it helps a lot of south London residents get to work in Docklands.” Excuse me for being thick, but how do all those south London residents get to North Greenwich in the first...
  10. R

    Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit performance

    It was all various classes of Derby in South Manchester, apart from a handful of Gloucesters and the very smartly turned out 3-car BRCWs (Class 104) on the Buxton line. The North Manchester scene was a lot grimmer; the Cravens power twins stank of fumes, as did the powerful Calder Valley BRCWs...
  11. R

    London's Worst Station

    With luggage? Euston Square’s entrance is at the other end of the platforms from Euston Square itself. Its original name Gower Street was a lot less misleading. 1699349608 Most of the stations that have been criticised here for gloominess (Clapton, Sydenham Hill etc.) are in deep cuttings.
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    Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

    Stalybridge to both Manchester stations is pretty much complete. When the first electric services start using any of the new infrastructure is another issue! :lol:
  13. R

    LMSR London long distance departures, 1928 Plus LNER London departures 1936

    Oh gosh I’d completely forgotten about the Glenfarg route being NB/LNER! I’ll check my Cobb’s before asking similar questions in future.
  14. R

    London's Worst Station

    Agreed. I got off there for the first time a few months ago and thought it had a lot of character and wasn’t in the least bit neglected or dismal.
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    LMSR London long distance departures, 1928 Plus LNER London departures 1936

    @Bevan Price Interesting that several of the Kings Cross ones were for Aberdeen and Perth. I’d always regarded Perth as having been an LMS stronghold. What route did its portion take; did it come off at Dundee Tay Bridge?
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    London's Worst Station

    It was when it opened. There were issues with Euston from the start: bad access to Euston Square; platfoms like they were in a goods or parcels depot rather than a passenger station; basement taxi rank a good idea poorly executed. Lots to like as well though: the concourse was bright, airy...
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    Should the Great Central have been merged into the GWR after grouping?

    This is a really interesting question, and one that I think it’s worth spending some effort on; it isn’t ridiculously speculative like “what if there hadn’t been a world war?”. The success of the (operational) SER/LCDR merger in 1899 showed what could be achieved by cooperation. I can’t help...
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    Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit performance

    The “premium” Swindon DMUs would have been great if they hadn’t been so underpowered. The Trans Pennines were completely shot after little more than a decade, having been worked flat out over hilly lines. The other classes didn’t do much better, which was a shame as their interiors were pretty...
  19. R

    TRIVIA - What's your birth loco?!

    My year of birth (1957) was clearly a watershed in the phasing out of steam. The first few months saw a variety of Standards still being built, but following the final Standard 5 in June it was only 4 2-6-0s and 9Fs. The last of the former appeared from Horwich on 27 November.

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