Recent content by DaveTM

I suspect it will be like with signalling infrastructure where semaphores are outliving at least two generations of what was supposed to replace them. If it can be repaired by someone with little more than a blacksmith's skills, it will last forever, being repaired like Trigger's broom. If it...

There are two dangerous words in "...quick risk assessment by management", "quick" and "management". "Quick" No considered risk assessment is quick. You need to have documented how and why a decision was made, who was party to that decision, and why they are considered competent to make or...

Examples I've had: PA system failed in middle carriage of 3 car unit. We can't keep passengers in the middle coach becase we can't communicate with them in an emergency. We can't just lock the middle carriage out because if a fire breaks out in an end coach we can't evacuate into the middle...

In *theory*, the rulebook is black and white and covers every case. If you c*ck up, the union will not be any help. If you just turn up every day and do your job properly you will never be under threat of being sacked. All in theory is good and rosy. But... In *practice*, every day we are...

Yes, they are designed with carefully shaped reflectors to direct the light in a generally forward and slightly downward direction so that it is visible to track workers etc without being blinding to oncoming drivers and without wasting light into the sky That all works nicely until the first...

@Seejaywalker has covered most of this above nicely, but there are a couple of things I'd add. One is that it is a bit difficult for those of us in railway jobs to say whether or not our own job would suit based on the limited information you have given. I understand it might not be possible to...

Early starts and late finishes are not a good reason for rostering nights. A driver who books on very early is available during the morning rush and is working when later early starts are having breaks. A late finisher starts in time for the evening rush and is working when earlier later starts...

Bear in mind that a coal fired power station is rather like a steam engine in that you don't just put the key in and turn it on. The time taken to get the boilers from cold to working temperature and pressure without damaging them is not measured in minutes, it is hours or even days. There are...

Here is my alternative method to attach a T key to a key ring, with no drilling needed!

Question number 1: Do we know anything yet about when HS2 operations begin (route proving and learning etc)? Where will the depots be and what will they sign? How many drivers will be required? Will they all be in one link with common route/traction knowledge? 1646345689 And question number 2...

Surely a simpler solution is to use thicker rails in this case? Rather than reinventing the wheel and using 3 skinny rails that each weigh 40kg per meter length, why not use 2 thicker rails each weighing 60kg per meter length. The overall cost of raw materials in terms of tonnes of steel per...

The big problem with a little bit of graffiti is that it attracts a lot more graffiti. Seeing graffiti around has two effects; firstly it recruits new vandals who feel it would be cool to show their efforts, and secondly it encourages existing vandals to cover up rivals' efforts with their own...

What "1986 Trawsfynydd nuclear disaster"? If I google "1986 Trawsfynydd nuclear", the only references to anything happening at Trawsfynydd in 1986 relate to a release of carbon dioxide gas (used as a coolant, never in contact with uranium or its decay products). For example, here is a note in...

It's not quite in the same league in terms of mileage, but the first 313 out of Littlehampton to Portsmouth in the morning clocks up 344 miles in a day. But in doing so it makes 129 station stops, without any regenerative or rheostatic braking, and (signals permitting) you reach at least 50mph...

Sockets that have been provided for public use must not result in disgruntled passengers sueing the TOC because the train destroyed their expensive device. Therefore they will be fed from an expensive power supply that will provide a reasonably clean 230V sine wave output near 50Hz with an...