Here's something for the railway fans!

[Si]

Phill_dvsn wrote: To be honest with you Blakey, there's more guys out there who are interested in some form of traction or other. Men are always big boys at heart i guess, we've learnt that the big trains, buses, trucks and cars are a better toy than the things we pushed along as kids.The Hornby, Dinky and Corgi traction were good in those days, now we can have the real thing, we can drive and go on these things, they thrash and make noise.Top gear is no different, Jeremy Clarkson is some form of Car Anorak really, He'd never admit to it for his credibility, but he is lol      Suzi Perry would have been the perfect foil for Clarkson, but apparently turned down the job of new Top Gear presenter recently, after quitting as the BBC's MotoGP pit-lane reporter.

[Trojan]

Si wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: To be honest with you Blakey, there's more guys out there who are interested in some form of traction or other. Men are always big boys at heart i guess, we've learnt that the big trains, buses, trucks and cars are a better toy than the things we pushed along as kids.The Hornby, Dinky and Corgi traction were good in those days, now we can have the real thing, we can drive and go on these things, they thrash and make noise.Top gear is no different, Jeremy Clarkson is some form of Car Anorak really, He'd never admit to it for his credibility, but he is lol      Suzi Perry would have been the perfect foil for Clarkson, but apparently turned down the job of new Top Gear presenter recently, after quitting as the BBC's MotoGP pit-lane reporter. I wouldn't p!ss on Clarkson if he was on fire.

[Si]

Trojan wrote: Si wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: To be honest with you Blakey, there's more guys out there who are interested in some form of traction or other. Men are always big boys at heart i guess, we've learnt that the big trains, buses, trucks and cars are a better toy than the things we pushed along as kids.The Hornby, Dinky and Corgi traction were good in those days, now we can have the real thing, we can drive and go on these things, they thrash and make noise.Top gear is no different, Jeremy Clarkson is some form of Car Anorak really, He'd never admit to it for his credibility, but he is lol      Suzi Perry would have been the perfect foil for Clarkson, but apparently turned down the job of new Top Gear presenter recently, after quitting as the BBC's MotoGP pit-lane reporter. I wouldn't p!ss on Clarkson if he was on fire. Shame - I'd pay good money to see that! PS Someone tell him he can't drive for toffee. He over-compensates with opposite-lock everytime.    

[Phill_dvsn]

Here's a few clips of footage for Dogduke and Blakey.A deltic in full flight herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILjPBuO3cs*And excellent footage from the cab doing a ton through Doncaster here*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1dZN5UDSM        

[BLAKEY]

Phill_dvsn wrote: Here's a few clips of footage for Dogduke and Blakey.A deltic in full flight herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILjPBuO3cs*And excellent footage from the cab doing a ton through Doncaster here*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1dZN5UDSM         Some wonderful sequences there Phill - thanks ever so much. I particularly liked the clear signal warning bells in the cab on the Doncaster area film. It must take real courage to thunder along at that speed, especially in the dark or fog - I take my hat off to the drivers - no slamming a brake pedal on in an emergency for them.

[Phill_dvsn]

BLAKEY wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Here's a few clips of footage for Dogduke and Blakey.A deltic in full flight herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILjPBuO3cs*And excellent footage from the cab doing a ton through Doncaster here*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1dZN5UDSM         Some wonderful sequences there Phill - thanks ever so much. I particularly liked the clear signal warning bells in the cab on the Doncaster area film. It must take real courage to thunder along at that speed, especially in the dark or fog - I take my hat off to the drivers - no slamming a brake pedal on in an emergency for them. Oh yes, you take me back a bit Blakey.I'm going to reminisce a bit about my mispent youth...I'll tell my story about one very cold, December, Saturday night-way back in 1983.I was fortunate enough to wrangle my way into a fair few cab rides in the Class 40's during the early 1980's. There wasn't so much Health and Safety in those days. If you got on the right side of the drivers-they'd be more than happy to give you a lift home in the best seat of the houseMy mate and I had missed the last train to Leeds from Manchester. It was near midnight when we got to the station. There was no prospect of getting a train until 8 the next morning. We were only 15 at the time, been stranded in Manchester in the wee small hours wasn't recommended in those days.My mate Andy was going away camping with the '208 Air cadet squadron' the next day.That wasn't going to happen if we couldn't get back in time.The station was now empty of passengers, the last service trains had long since gone.A deserted feel of dispair descended upon us! :-0But the station came alive again after midnight, the place bustled busy with the newspaper trains. Manchester Victoria has one of the longest platforms in Britain, they used to be able to pull three full trains onto one platform to load them. This night they were all class 40 hauled (they usually were) The noise of the whistling engines combined was loud.A class 25 was parked in the Bury bay platforms, It's Sulzer engine spluttering away under the cavernous station canopy.The leading train had 40177 up front, we went up and asked the driver where he was going. It was Newcastle bound he said, but they were Holbeck men and would be coming off at Leeds.ACE... we thought!! :-)We continued to tell them our sob story, The driver and second man both said they'd take us back to Leeds, but we would have to ask the station supervisor if it was ok.The second man pointed down the platform to some stairs leading up to offices above the platform. He told us we needed to see the 'Scottish bloke' but he was a bit of a miserable old git, he'll probably say no :-(So off we went, planning our sob story to tell him on the way, it was pretty obvious the guy was an old misery from first glance, we thought we had no chance, he didn't look very friendly at all. Things weren't looking good!!We finished off our tale, he looked us up and down a bit, then slamed his cup of tea down on the desk 'come with me he' growled, and off he storms down the platform, Me and my mate chase after him in hot pursuit.He gets to the cab of the 40.DRIVER.. he shouts through the door, will you take these lads back to Leeds, they'll have to come in the cab with you, we can't put them in with the papers.YES say the nice crewmen :-)And so we climb into the cab of this big whistling beast, we were well chuffed, this was going to be our first cab ride in a Class 40!This particular night was bitterly cold, but it was positively tropical in the cab, the heater blowers were in fine form(This was most unusual for a 40-they were notorious for been cold and draughty, rough riding buggers amongst the drivers)The heat of the cab mixed with the smell of the diesel oil stained interior, it made a delightful aroma!The second man let us both squash up and sit in his seat, it's alright he said, i'll go for a kip in the back cab in a bit. The driver was a small old chap. Freddy Fieldhouse was his name, he was a real old character, an engineman from the old school of steam.He'd been a railwayman all his life-and you could tell.He had his feet up on the control desk, cup of flask tea in one hand, roll up cig in the other. Behind the bulkhead of the cab was a great pile of Sunday edition newspapers. Every paper was there. News of the World, Telegraph, The Sunday Express, you name it, it was there.There perks of the job!!! Freddy told us with a big grin ;-)The train was due off Manchester at 00.59. It was about half 12 by now, the minutes just seemed to drag by. We just wanted to sample what it was like to be in the cab of our fave loco. It really was like waiting for Xmas lol.From our V.I.P vantage point up high in the cab, we felt priviliged indeed, like watchmen at the helm of a great ship-we waited with anticipation. The great mass of trackwork ahead glinted under the clear moonlit night. The small twinkle of green, and red signals shone bright in the distance. Magic was in the air tonight!!Our platform away signal was on Green for a while before departure time.We were platformed 'wrong line' This meant we would have to cross the complicated pointwork at the throat of the station. We needed to gain the 'up Leeds line' for our nocturnal jounrney home.The digital platform clock showed the magic number 00.59 at last!!The second man poked his head out of the cab door, he peered down the platform towards the end of the train, the guard gave him the green flag, the secondman slamed the cab door and say's OK FREDDY!Freddy pulled off the brake, a loud hiss of air escaped all around. We watched his every move, we were taken it all in how to drive these beasts. Freddy pulled the power handle full back. I was surprised there wasn't an immediate roar of thunder as the engine erupted into life. I was surprised to find out there is a 2 second delay for the engine to respond to the control panel.But then it happened, the engine started to hammer away like a good un!!! we stormed out of Victoria making enough noise to wake the dead.We had the window open to savour the sight and sound, we hit the points at a fair old speed (way too fast in my opinion)The engine swayed, and bounced about quite alarmingly, We crossed the tracks to gain the 'up Leeds line'These old 40's were certainly rough riders!!!The newspaper vans snaked behind us at speed obediently, we were on load 12, which was quite a hefty proposition really. But we attacked the incline of Miles Platting bank, and crested the summit with ease!!!We shut the window and settled back to enjoy our 'illicit midnight train ride' in the cab.The cab of the 40 was in total darkness, the only light was radiating from the dim glow of the various dials, and disks on the control desk. Freddy told us to 'get ready for the VERY loud 'A.W.S horn'The A.W.S was the loud warning bell automatically triggered just before hitting a signal. The driver had to cancel this signal within three seconds, if not-the emergency brakes would be applied.He also told us we would pass just one oncoming train that late at night, it would be a parcels train we would see near the Standedge tunnel. it looks as if it will hit us he says, they look close when they pass from the cab, but they don't he laughed :-)There was snow on the tops of the Pennines when we got up there, then we would coast down grade all the way to Huddersfield.Thrashing through the 3 miles of Standedge tunnel in the dark, in the cab of a noisy 40 was an exhilerating experience to remember!!We went through Huddersfield station centre road, another Class 40 was platformed on a parcels train. The wind was blowing cold by now, the noise of the 40's and wind drifted around the station roof rafters like a ghostly lamented howl.We stopped at Dewsbury, pulling into the platform 'wrong line'The back two vans were uncoupled, these would be forwarded to Doncaster later.All too soon we would be pulling into an empty Leeds station. Another Gateshead 40 was waiting to forward the train to Newcastle, our beast 177 was quickly unhitched. The 40 would run light engine back to Holbeck shed.Our luck was still in, the second man took us through the ticket barrier, they've come in with me he tells the guy there, he nods his head and were straight through.He then gave us a lift down to Holbeck depot, We watch as Freddy brings 40177 onto shed. The cold night air returned to silence as the 40 was shut down.A memoriable night to remember for sure!Sadly 40177 our beast for the night was withdrawn a few months later. I always have a soft spot for it.It can be seen in better days herehttp://snipurl.com/uf9h8                                                                

[Si]

I feel like I've just done the trip myself, Phill! Well done!!!

[Phill_dvsn]

Si wrote: I feel like I've just done the trip myself, Phill! Well done!!! Haha Thanks Si.I actually found a picture of a Manchester Longsight depot driver we chatted up for a cab ride as well.This time it was 40013 'Andania' on an overnight paper train from Manchester-Cleethorpes. He was called George, but his nickname was 'loverboy George' From the tales he was telling us i can see why.You can see 'Gorgeous George' in a 40 cab herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/deadmans_handle/4284242163/I got told he moved to Plymouth depot later, no doubt to evade a few angry husbands lol         

[dogduke]

Looking at the video thro ' donny and the speed limits through main linestations in general I doubt that 100mph is allowed through Doncaster.The route could be set- through line-ecml to York with a minimum ofpoints 'in reverse'.'Reverse being the diverting positon of point work.The fewer number of points in reverse the higher the line speed possible.A ton approaching and beyond Donny - yes,through the station - no,it would be a magnet for poor souls wanting to end it all.On Doncaster Power Signal Box panel on the stretch south of Doncastertrains are timed, the speed is indicated on the signal panel.Sins of old are sins of old - big brother is watching EVERYTHING ! -as mentioned in other threads the days of 'are we saying anythingBobby(signalman.woman)have long gone.Don't mention the drinking that went on

[Brandy]

I could almost smell the old holborn(it just had to be lol)and the diesel fumes! what a mixture.......pure heavenBlooody well wrote was that mate nice one,and thanks for sharing.