Don Coffey cab ride video discussion

[Pigeon]

Just watched this - super stuff, many thanks! I too believe it is the first video to show the Brent Curve, at least that I know about. The new diddly bits around Reading were also of interest; though I believe others do already show these, I haven't got any of them myself.

On his YouTube page for his latest video, Don Coffey mentions two future ones: Bedford to Dagenham and Tunstead to Bedford via Corby. I look forward to both of them, especially the second as it presumably includes Syston North Junction to Corby via Manton.

As do I. There is already a video of the Corby route (going the other way), but the quality is abysmal (mostly due to the autofocus giving us beautifully clear and sharp images of the raindrops on the screen while the actual scene is blurred into uselessness, but with several other problems as well), so to see it in Don's customarily excellent quality is especially worthy of anticipation.

 

[Don Coffey]

I’m on with the Tunstead to Bedford via Corby video and since you mention the clarity, I’ll attach a screenshot to wet your appetite! This is soon after leaving Cowburn Tunnel where we pass a DC Rail Class 60 (not a subsidiary of mine!). The weather is fantastic throughout and luckily for all of us, my mate Vinny is as pedantic about clean glass as I am. The results speak for themselves……

 

[Railwaysceptic]

I’m on with the Tunstead to Bedford via Corby video and since you mention the clarity, I’ll attach a screenshot to wet your appetite! This is soon after leaving Cowburn Tunnel where we pass a DC Rail Class 60 (not a subsidiary of mine!). The weather is fantastic throughout and luckily for all of us, my mate Vinny is as pedantic about clean glass as I am. The results speak for themselves……

a DC Rail Class 60 (not a subsidiary of mine!: Don Coffey Rail. Yes, sir!

 

[Don Coffey]

Many thanks for this interesting run. Also for your compliments about the restored St Albans South signal box; much appreciated! And if anyone wants to visit us see our website for our next few open afternoons (or days over the September Heritage Open Days weekend).

PS: At 1:34:35, where the Down Hendon joins the Down Slow, you refer to "Coldstream Junction" - The box, when I passed it before electrification, was labelled "Silkstream Junction" and it remains with that name in Baker's Rail Atlas and in other atlases.

Hi John.

Regarding St Albans South Box, until researching for the video, I knew nothing about it but then I found your website. I love to see work like that especially being a member of our local “friends” group at Chapel en le Frith. All the best to you and your colleagues.

Coldstream Junction. I really do despair at times! To be honest, I don’t know if that’s me or auto correct butting in but after editing I sit and watch the whole thing and still didn’t pick it up. Thanks for pointing it out, I’ll add a correction to the video description.

 

[Don Coffey]

a DC Rail Class 60 (not a subsidiary of mine!: Don Coffey Rail. Yes, sir!

 

[LOL The Irony]

@Don Coffey are GBRf cool with you filming and if so, could it be possible to film one of the Ashville Aggregates runs? Thanks in advance.

 

[Don Coffey]

@Don Coffey are GBRf cool with you filming and if so, could it be possible to film one of the Ashville Aggregates runs? Thanks in advance.

Trust me, if I could, I would but I can’t just turn up and film with anybody, I’ve got to have permission. There are discussions with GBRf but not at that location and it’s at very early stages.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm on with the Tunstead to Bedford via Corby video and since you mention the clarity, I'll attach a screenshot to wet your appetite! This is soon after leaving Cowburn Tunnel where we pass a DC Rail Class 60 (not a subsidiary of mine!). The weather is fantastic throughout and luckily for all of us, my mate Vinny is as pedantic about clean glass as I am. The results speak for themselves......

Yep... that looks jolly fine Looking forward to this!

 

[LOL The Irony]

Trust me, if I could, I would but I can’t just turn up and film with anybody, I’ve got to have permission. There are discussions with GBRf but not at that location and it’s at very early stages.

That's fair enough and I look forwards to whatever you wind up bringing us.

 

[Don Coffey]

Tunstead to Bedford via Corby and the wonderful Harringworth Viaduct tonight at 19:00. It’s an epic at just over 4 hours I’m afraid so you might want to split it into bite size chunks. I’m also back in business filming from our trains at TPE so I’ll be bringing you some updates like the new 55 mph Miles Platting banked curve and a progress report on electrification on Church Fenton to Colton Junction. I’ll also add what I know about TRU. There’s also a trip through the wash at Ardwick.

 

[55002]

Tunstead to Bedford via Corby and the wonderful Harringworth Viaduct tonight at 19:00. It’s an epic at just over 4 hours I’m afraid so you might want to split it into bite size chunks. I’m also back in business filming from our trains at TPE so I’ll be bringing you some updates like the new 55 mph Miles Platting banked curve and a progress report on electrification on Church Fenton to Colton Junction. I’ll also add what I know about TRU. There’s also a trip through the wash at Ardwick.

Great stuff Don, enjoy watching these

 

[Railwaysceptic]

Tunstead to Bedford via Corby and the wonderful Harringworth Viaduct tonight at 19:00. It’s an epic at just over 4 hours I’m afraid so you might want to split it into bite size chunks. I’m also back in business filming from our trains at TPE so I’ll be bringing you some updates like the new 55 mph Miles Platting banked curve and a progress report on electrification on Church Fenton to Colton Junction. I’ll also add what I know about TRU. There’s also a trip through the wash at Ardwick.

Thanks for the reminder. Your long epic videos always look a lot better three days after you've uploaded them so I'll wait until Friday before watching and recording. Very pleased you're again able to film with TPE.

 

[Don Coffey]

Thanks for the reminder. Your long epic videos always look a lot better three days after you've uploaded them so I'll wait until Friday before watching and recording. Very pleased you're again able to film with TPE.

They do. I think YouTube servers need to buffer up if you’ll pardon the expression!

 

[Strat-tastic]

Great stuff Don, enjoy watching these

He already has

 

[Pigeon]

Just watched this - super stuff, many thanks once again. I see a couple of my friends were having some fun!

 

[83A]

Just watched the Tunsted to Bedford video. Was not aware of that fantastic viaduct north of Corby. I shall be heading out on my motorcycle soon to view that !

Brilliant stuff thanks

 

[Don Coffey]

Just watched the Tunsted to Bedford video. Was not aware of that fantastic viaduct north of Corby. I shall be heading out on my motorcycle soon to view that !

Brilliant stuff thanks

If you get some decent photos, post them up

 

[Don Coffey]

Just watched this - super stuff, many thanks once again. I see a couple of my friends were having some fun!

I often wonder if it’s one of the “guys” out filming.

 

[Don Coffey]

I think this thread started when things seemed 100% against me sharing videos despite me choosing to donate the proceeds to charity. Questions were asked about third party footage and it all had to be investigated before everyone was satisfied that all was above board. Then something flared up at my own company that paused filming - ironically while other companies were still helping. It goes on and on and I feel like I’ve been raped by the tax man having taken £5500 in tax and NI from me on the income from YouTube alone. A plea to a specialist in the tax office led to a very curt, “I don’t care what you do with it, it’s income and you must declare it”. The notion that donations can be gift aided is a farce and can only be done after tax has been deducted so it’s not 20% of the whole amount, it’s 20% of what’s left after tax and national insurance has been deducted. With gift aid, close to £12k became £7247.35. That’s disgusting in my opinion. I’ve got an accountant coming to see me in October to see what if anything can be done.

Anyway, now with Covid less of an issue than it was (some companies are still trying to catch up on lost training), I’m back in business with TPE having been given a green light (no pun intended) to film again and I’ve started enquiries with some other operators about filming too. In the meantime I’m showing a “back in business” video on the 5/10 which involves a regular job we get operating the “Huddersfield Stopper” from Piccadilly and the return trip. I’ve still got loads of footage from Freightliner which has been very popular and odds and ends from TfW and Metrolink.

I’d be interested in talking to anybody in the TOCs or FOCs about filming for fundraising purposes but I need contacts high up, probably senior management or directors who can authorise it. I’d also be interested in talking to any tax experts. I’m really grateful for opinions but I only want to hear from true experts in the field.

The next video is out on the 5/10.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That's excellent news that TPE are on again, and the possibility of additional operators as well - there's a lot of potentially interesting lines out there that have yet to be covered, and I'd rather you covered them with your high quality filming than anyone else did...

 

[Strat-tastic]

I'm intrigued by where the phrase 'gets the berries' comes from, where a 66 gets to apply full power

 

[Don Coffey]

I'm intrigued by where the phrase 'gets the berries' comes from, where a 66 gets to apply full power

There are various versions. All through my motor industry years we said give it the beans although another mate from my apprenticeship said give it some rice. However, my mate at Freightliner who filmed it says give the berries so I assume that 66s go best on berries and 185 seem to go quite well on beans

 

[Strat-tastic]

There are various versions. All through my motor industry years we said give it the beans although another mate from my apprenticeship said give it some rice. However, my mate at Freightliner who filmed it says give the berries so I assume that 66s go best on berries and 185 seem to go quite well on beans

And for the West Indies, give it da rice and peas mon!
Thanks.

 

[Pigeon]

Sorry to hear that HMRC are ripping off the Samaritans, but good news about your filming prospects! Looking forward to seeing the results. Also interested to hear that you have footage from TfW - currently available coverage of their area has some significant holes.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

I think this thread started when things seemed 100% against me sharing videos despite me choosing to donate the proceeds to charity. Questions were asked about third party footage and it all had to be investigated before everyone was satisfied that all was above board. Then something flared up at my own company that paused filming - ironically while other companies were still helping. It goes on and on and I feel like I’ve been raped by the tax man having taken £5500 in tax and NI from me on the income from YouTube alone. A plea to a specialist in the tax office led to a very curt, “I don’t care what you do with it, it’s income and you must declare it”. The notion that donations can be gift aided is a farce and can only be done after tax has been deducted so it’s not 20% of the whole amount, it’s 20% of what’s left after tax and national insurance has been deducted. With gift aid, close to £12k became £7247.35. That’s disgusting in my opinion. I’ve got an accountant coming to see me in October to see what if anything can be done.

Anyway, now with Covid less of an issue than it was (some companies are still trying to catch up on lost training), I’m back in business with TPE having been given a green light (no pun intended) to film again and I’ve started enquiries with some other operators about filming too. In the meantime I’m showing a “back in business” video on the 5/10 which involves a regular job we get operating the “Huddersfield Stopper” from Piccadilly and the return trip. I’ve still got loads of footage from Freightliner which has been very popular and odds and ends from TfW and Metrolink.

I’d be interested in talking to anybody in the TOCs or FOCs about filming for fundraising purposes but I need contacts high up, probably senior management or directors who can authorise it. I’d also be interested in talking to any tax experts. I’m really grateful for opinions but I only want to hear from true experts in the field.

The next video is out on the 5/10.

I'm not an expert on income tax and you are well advised to consult a tax specialist. However: that remark from the civil servant in the tax office may have given the wrong impression. It is correct that all income must be declared but that does not preclude the right to claim legitimate allowances. Charity donations are normally free of income tax liability as long as they have been made through the prescribed channels:

https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-reliefs/charity-donations-tax-relief

It may be necessary for you in future to make your donations in a different way. I hope your discussion with the accountant is fruitful.

I look forward to your future videos.

 

[Don Coffey]

I'm not an expert on income tax and you are well advised to consult a tax specialist. However: that remark from the civil servant in the tax office may have given the wrong impression. It is correct that all income must be declared but that does not preclude the right to claim legitimate allowances. Charity donations are normally free of income tax liability as long as they have been made through the prescribed channels:

https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-reliefs/charity-donations-tax-relief

It may be necessary for you in future to make your donations in a different way. I hope your discussion with the accountant is fruitful.

I look forward to your future videos.

I’m aware of the section in the link but that only applies under certain conditions which doesn’t include me. I had already handed the affairs over to an accountant and he is adamant that there is no alternative. Tax relief on charity donations isn’t what it seems as I understand it. Thanks anyway.

 

[Don Coffey]

Coming at a later date, the much requested Piccadilly to Cleethorpes and Newcastle to Edinburgh. Those are very much weather and daylight dependant at this time of the year so bear with me.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Now there's a proper teaser!

 

[SteveyBee131]

Sounds awesome as always! Looking forward to a treat as ever...

 

[InkyScrolls]

The latest video has gone private - I was only halfway through! May I ask why?