- a modern reprint of the hardback copy of Bradshaw’s 1863 Handbook – all four sections

- a Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese Selection – Award Winning Cheese from the Lincolnshire Wolds …..

Check out our Lincolnshire Poacher e-competition.

Be quick. Closing date is Sunday 12 February.

Pass this on to your friends and best of luck …. but remember, I want to win the cheese!!

Unit 323238 was the first to be fitted; the rest of their 17 class 323s are following.

Here are some shots I took on a trip to Crewe last week.

Yes, their trains between the peaks really are that empty compared to ours, never having fully recovered from the disastrously long line closure in connection with the WCML upgrade.

Looks interesting and it’s free to attend.

It’s good to see so much focus going into developing transport systems in England elsewhere than just in London & the South East.

See you there if you can make it!

In the last week, I’ve been on four trains where the unit has failed in some way:
- 16 January, 1807 Chester-Piccadilly made up of 142033 & 142038 where 038 had one engine out having failed on the way to Chester leading to a 10 minute late arrival there
- 17 January, 1758 Stockport to Chester made up of 156423, where the engine failed on the rear vehicle and it had proceeded to Chester from Cuddington with all lights out in the rear vehicle and a red “bardic” light on the back leading to a 19 minute late arrival into Chester
- 18 January, 0717 Piccadilly to Chester, where the engine in the rear vehicle of 150138 was ticking over but not providing any power apart from keeping the lights on leading to a 14 minute late arrival into Chester
- 20 January, 1317 Piccadilly to Chester, where the engine in the front vehicle of 150211 shut down after leaving Altrincham and would not restart. The lights went out after Ashley and once at Mobberley the driver could not get the brakes off as the compressor on the rear vehicle was defective, not providing enough air.

Here’s a sequence from today’s failure.

Failed (and externally filthy) 150211 waits at Mobberley for assistance, being watched over by its conductor, Rod. Rod had let passengers know they’d have to wait for an hour to be rescued by the following train which should be able to provide enough air to get the brakes off. The plan hatched was that this train, the 1417 from Piccadilly, would borrow a headlight from Virgin at Stockport to enable the coupled train to proceed at full line speed to Chester rather than at the 20mph maximum permitted with a “bardic” on the front.

I let passengers know of the adjacent Railway Inn and many went there for tea/coffee or a drink whilst waiting for the train.

The driver had to walk back about 400 yards in the rain to Mercer’s Crossing, putting three sets of detonators down on the rail, and then having to wait in the pouring rain for the 1417. Drivers aren’t issued with caps these days. He got pretty cold and wet!

Rescue unit, 142045, having picked our driver up runs over the three sets of detonators scaring the local birds.

And approaches very slowly.

Our driver was on to Maintenance Control receiving instructions.

Coupling up.

Unknown to me to start with, someone else was also filming this on his phone ….

Coupling up – you’ll have to turn your screen round as I can’t work out how to tilt it 90 degrees! ….

The units were revved up and the air supply coming through from the Pacer got above the 6 bar required meaning the brakes could be released.

It was then discovered on talking to the driver of the 1417 that Virgin had not given him a headlight at Stockport, but rather a “bardic” lamp. He’d been puzzled as to why this was as he had one anyway – all drivers do. This meant that without a headlamp, the train would be restricted to 20mph.

The driver fitted the “bardic”.

And meanwhile in discussion with Control the decision was taken to run the train only as far as Greenbank, as at 20mph by then the following one would be catching it up.

So, ready to go with the “bardic” fitted, the driver liaises with the signalman, the barriers are lowered, and it’s off.

…. also videoed, this time with me realising what was going on in advance ….

They’re off!

Thus, the 1317 was terminated at Mobberley, the 1417 left Mobberley 29 minutes late and terminated at Greenbank 43 minutes late from where Control had organised a coach to run all stations to Chester.

In the other direction, the 1507 from Chester (the “Scholars’ Express” from Knutsford at 1545) was cancelled, and the 1607 from Chester started from Northwich on time, with Control arranging a coach leaving Chester at 1615 and running all stations to Stockport.

Meanwhile at Mobberley a passenger turned up for the now cancelled 1553 to Piccadilly expecting to change at Stockport to make Trowbridge in Wiltshire by 2029 after 2 days on a course. The 1317′s traincrew were still waiting there for the taxi that had been sent to collect them and take them back to Piccadilly for the driver to sign off and the conductor to work the 1715 to Hadfield. With quick thinking and a phone call to Control, permission was given for the passenger and their folding bike to join them in the taxi so she could work out the best way to get to Trowbridge from Piccadilly. I heard later she made her train at Piccadilly, the 1627 to Bournemouth changing at Birmingham New Street with 1 minute to spare. She rang me this evening to say she’d got home on time. Nice!

A poor end to the week, but at least it’s Saturday tomorrow!!

I was invited last October at the Engineering Conferences for some of us to visit Newton Heath to discuss unit performance. It’s time to arrange that visit!

“All employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way are advised that a Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an open sleigh for members of the public.  This assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly where there are multiple passengers.  Please note that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners before their fields may be entered.  To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for collection by any shepherds planning or required to watch their flocks at night.  While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation hut, all users of this facility are reminded that an Emergency Response Plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the flocks.  The Angel of the Lord is additionally reminded that, prior to shining his/her glory all around, s/he must confirm that all shepherds are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory.

Following last year’s well publicised case, everyone is advised that Equal Opportunities legislation prohibits any comment with regard to the redness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer.  Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence.

While it is acknowledged that gift bearing is a common practice in various parts of the world, particularly the Orient, everyone is reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to Hospitality Guidelines and all gifts must be registered.  This applies regardless of the individual, even Royal Personages.  It is particularly noted that direct gifts of currency or gold are specifically precluded, while caution is advised regarding other common gifts such as aromatic resins that may evoke allergic reactions.

Finally, in the recent case of the infant found tucked up in a manger without any crib for a bed, Social Services have been advised and will be arriving shortly.”

With Very Best Wishes for the Festive Season and 2012 from all of us at MCRUA.

http://www.mcrua.org.uk/chairmansblog/2011/11/04/northern-hub-in-doubt-due-to-overspends-in-s-e-england/ 

…. and look at the 3rd paragraph of page 3 in Teresa’s speech.

Peter Walker from the County Durham group, Coastliners, has written to Railfuture to say that he had come across this argument before, so he’s conducted his own research.  He says “As you see, it hardly bears out what she said or indeed what anyone else has tried to claim about North/South fare variations.  As in all these matters, it depends where people look.”

Here are just a few of Peter’s fare comparisons based on the cost of a standard off-peak single ticket (arranged in ascending order of distance): -

******************************************************

Billingham – Hartlepool 7.25 miles £2.80

London Bridge – Streatham Common 8 miles £2.00

Manchester Piccadilly – Cheadle Hulme 8.25 miles £3.20

Leeds – Bradford 9 miles £3.10

London Kings Cross – New Barnet 9.25 miles £2.60

Manchester Victoria – Mossley (Lancs) 10.25 miles £3.20

******************************************************

There’s interesting!

So next time we hear someone in prominence coming up with this, perhaps we should ask them for evidence to justify all their new 350s, 377s and 379s whilst we carry on with (even more) 142s.

Here’s details of their latest event next Wednesday from Duncan Law, Network Rail’s Northern Hub Scheme Sponsor. All are welcome.

Roy says “The next event is a presentation on the Northern Hub, by Duncan Law, Scheme Sponsor, Network Rail. The Government recently announced funding for the long-awaited Ordsall Chord, first proposed way back in 1980. In addition, equally long-awaited aspirations for extensions to electrification are at last proceeding, with work underway on the Manchester – Liverpool via Chat Moss line, to be followed by the Bolton – Preston – Blackpool Corridor and only announced this week, the much needed Trans-Pennine route via Huddersfield.

“Within the above context, what will the Northern Hub mean for the railways of this Region?

“To find out attend this important event. The date is 7 December. Details are attached – but note that this is a joint event with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and a different venue and that there will be no refreshments in advance.”

For those interested in the detail from those “who really know”, sounds like a “Must”!

Many of you know this, but for those who don’t, here’s a reminder ….

It’s the next to last item on the lighter green banner above.

Mike Battman’s post about his trip to Dublin from the Mid Cheshire Line has had lots of hits.  If you make a trip from either of our lines and don’t mind doing a write up together with some pictures, please feel free to send them in.

Click here for the survey.

A new service starts the following day operated by Aintree Coachlines and registered as Route 40. (In the “old days”, route c40 was from the Town Hall to “Upton Zoo”).

The free connection from the railway station at Chester to the city was one of the very first, if not the first, free bus service like this. That was around 15 years ago.

We wonder if it was time for the contract to be renegotiated and for the dedicated vehicles which are around 15 years old to be replaced. We understand the costs were shared by the council and by the train operators based on their numbers of services into Chester.

We also understand that with Aintree Coachways registering the service, the council would not be allowed to subsidise a competing service.

The new service starts on 21 November with fares of £1 each way for adults, and free for holders of English Concessionary Bus Passes. Holders of Welsh passes will have to pay (or walk!), but then holders of English passes have to pay in Wales apart from on services which start or finish in England.

What a shame this free and heavily-used service has had to die!

***************************************************

Press release from Chester West & Chester Council received on 14/11/11 – CHANGES TO FREE CHESTER CITY RAIL LINK BUS