No doubt someone somewhere is thinking about re-modelling and re-signaling of Sheffield for HS2, and if that doesn't go ahead a more modest scheme would almost certainly happen instead, as the existing signaling can't be far off life expiry. However, no decision can be made about which to go ahead with until a decision is made on HS2 eastern leg.
Since services were being dispatched north off P8 on a shunt signal, I wonder how much it would actually take to get that upgraded to a fully signalled move? It does seem like an oversight that there are no northbound moves allowed for from that side of the station.
10 people standing watching a crane lift a tank.
No wonder our railways cost so much to run!
But nothing is moving. There will be a small specialist team engaged in the task of lifting the wagons. Anyone not directly involved in this is getting in the road and increasing the risk. Too many people on site in my view.
Not at all. It's ludicrous to have people standing doing nothing like that right next to a big lift. Several things can happen - chains can snap and go wild, or even this [snip] Hi-viz won't save you.
Tauton good point and one of NR's lifesaving rules is around exclusion zones being maintained around plant and lifting operations. I believe it was 5m for those not directly involved with the lift.
I'm kind of wishing I hadn't posted any photos now, if all people are going to do is criticise the people out there doing the work. Can I suggest those members who have judged the entire site safety regime from a single photo presented without commentary contact the HSE with their issues rather than posting them on an enthusiasts forum? They can do something about it, although I'm not sure how much respect they would treat such complaints with.
For what it's worth (and I've never been involved with lifting anything on the railway, but have in the construction and entertainment industries), I saw nothing of concern in the few minutes I was walking past the site. There were a large number of onlookers (public, both on platforms and from above the station) so if anything dangerous actually happened there will be photos and reports of it. Personally, I prefer to trust the people who are being paid to do a job to do it safely and within the rules rather than the armchair observers who have seen a single picture of a single moment in time.
On a more positive note, it's worthwhile noting that in my most recent picture, one of the tank wagons has been lifted onto the area at the end of platform 1. Guessing that one will be leaving by road then.
