Things I Miss About Railways Today

[x568wcn]

On the radio 2 today no trains between Kings Cross and Peterborough...
Reduced Service between Kings Cross and Edinburgh...
how do they get from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, when they aren't going to Peterborough?

[richard]

You walk to Euston

There was a 'slow' freight bypass in LNER days - is that still open, or did it get the Beeching Axe like most of the relief routes?


Could be worse - have you seen the list of trains running in Germany today? There isn't one...


Richard

[x568wcn]

Ah, York station. The haze under those wonderful arches and the undecipherable announcements from the lady up in the roof.
Or - standing on Huntingdon station and experiencing the havoc of an A3 coming round the bend at (very) high speed en route nonstop for London Town.

Sir Visto
Cadiz

I used to live in St Ives before I came to York, but non the less, the haze under those arches!

They do have a down fall of high windows letting in light behind the subject, and I won't even go in to a train from the south, taking the photo facing South when it's on platform 10, and you're on P9.

Anyway, the haze under the roof.

With Scotsman out, it is few and far between, and I work the 2 times a day when she leaves, and it isn't the same coming back in, but when there is something in there, it is a wonderfull sight, and include here a selection that I have taken.

[Bullhead]

Mine is such a simple thing - loco hauled passenger trains

There are still a (very) few in Scotland: as well as the summer-only steam-hauled "Jacobite" to Mallaig, the Caledonian Sleeper is loco-hauled throughout, by a combination of class 67s and 90s. The empty stock workings into Glasgow Central from Polmadie are quite interesting, too - in recent weeks I have seen class 37, 66 and 92 locos on these.

Technically the northbound GNER "Mallard" (shudder) services are loco-hauled too, as they have a class 91 at the front.

[Tony]

Things I Miss About Railways Today:
Well, considering for a moment some places we once travelled to in the approved manner, and can no more: Three Cocks Junction, Commins Coch Halt, Akeman Street, Brill, Adlestrop (if Edward Thomas were alive he would turn in his grave), Aylesbury High Street - and these other stations (see below - one is clearly Brackley Central, but the others?):

[Tony]

I apologise that one of these pics is out of LNER context - but the other ones, the V2 and the Jinty/B1, are in.
At least the odd one out is of a now-preserved locomotive, and there is every chance that sooner or later 80104 will set wheel on ex-LNER metals, that is, if it hasn't already done so.

[x568wcn]

Technically the northbound GNER "Mallard" (shudder) services are loco-hauled too, as they have a class 91 at the front.

and the GNER 43's are both ways, in theory, as they are seperate, and do swap round, if you log both ends regually!

[Bullhead]

So are the GNER 43's

Indeed they are. HST power cars running "light engine" aren't unknown, and some months ago we had a brief discussion about the possibility of using one on the West Highland portion of the First ScotRail "Caledonian Sleeper", because of weight-related speed restrictions for the 67s.

[x568wcn]

But they do still go in the DMU book!

[bw1165]

What I miss about railways today...

Steam, obviously. Especially the insignificant, dirty goods engines.
Goods trains with loose couplings and a guard's van.
Track that was properly maintained, without weeds growing all over the shop making it look like the Bishop's Castle Railway.
Semaphore signalling, and proper signal boxes built by proper railway companies.
Station buildings, built by proper railway companies, including closed but intact stations.
Engine sheds at regular intervals along the line.
Fares that didn't have to be booked in advance and didn't need a second mortgage.
Restrained liveries that weren't designed to appeal to a 5 year-old.
Wide array of branch and secondary lines.
The Hayfield branch and Fairfield-Chorlton lines. (Among other favourites)
Staffed stations.
Khazis on stations.
Coal fires in waiting rooms.
A more realistic attitude towards elf and safety.

Just a few....

[mistahjim]

I miss BR Blue!!
There I've said it. I will always prefer steam locos, and have an interest in the railway of today, but Blue is what I grew up with. It made seeing something in a different livery more exciting for one. I (just about) remember my glee when spotting with my dad at westbury (aged 4) in '87 seeing a green 47. (424 was it? anyway).

Other things I miss:

Proper trains (with a locomotive)
A 'GM Free' railway!!
Reasonable fares
Variety in freight trains (locos and stock)

[Bullhead]

I miss BR Blue!!

Strangely, I agree with you - I found myself half-ignoring the GWR pannier tank locomotive which had hauled me from Wymondham Abbey, and taking this picture last week on the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. It reminded me of the early 1970s, when there were still locomotive-hauled trains:

[giner]

What I miss . . .

Sitting for hours with 'Dubber' - never knew his real name - the signalman in various Stevenage signal boxes, Langley, Stevenage South, Stevenage North. He never seemed to worry about losing his job.

Sunday excursions from Stevenage to Doncaster, return fare 11/-. Usually a V2 in charge, but oh the thrill we felt when an A3 would turn up (we'll be in for a fast run today, lads!).

. . . and . . . Water troughs.

Nothing matched the sight of an A3 or an A4 speeding towards the north end of Langley troughs, just south of Stevenage, with the tender tank cap blasted open and the four foot fountain of water spewing down the sides of the leading coach and drenching many an unwary passenger sitting near an open window on a warm summer day.

Some of you will know that at the north end of Langley troughs was the old three-arched Norton Green Lane bridge (No. 89, if I remember correctly). The joy was to be sitting on the parapet when the four foot fountain would smash into the arch as the train sped through, thereby sending a huge cascade of water about 40 feet into the air and then soaking us lads as the deluge landed.

For some reason, A3's and A4's were a better bet for a good fountain, rather than the A1, V2, B1, etc. classes. The overflow characteristic of these was more of a down-the-side spray.

[soupdragon]

Small country stations with proper station buildings and maybe a goods siding with cattle dock and goods shed, staff going about their business but always time to stop and pass the time of day with you... what do we have now? a windswept platform with a bus shelter (vandalised), no local goods, no staff

[60041]

What I miss:-
Sitting watching the shunt at the south end of Berwick Station as the express picked up a fish van from the little bay platform - if you were lucky you could get a footplate ride out onto the Royal Border Bridge and back.

Walking through Tweedmouth shed on the way to school, and climbing onto the footplate of 60041 Salmon Trout and being allowed to put a couple of shovel-fulls of coal onto the fire.

Watching the pilot pushing coal trucks onto the coaling stage at Tweedmouth, if it was damp the rails would be greasy and it would take a couple of tries.

Calling at Wooler Station to pick up a parcel on a hot afternoon and seeing a loco simmering in the yard with the crew fast asleep in the sunshine.

Waiting at the level crossing at Crag Mill while the fireman of the goods dropped off a can of drinking water for the signalman. There would be no sense of urgency - he had all day.

Calling at the station late at night and posting a letter into the post box on the side of the mail train, and knowing that it be delivered in London first thing the next morning.

The incredible noise of fly shunting as coal trucks were pushed around the yard at Ashington Colliery.