Recent content by Trainfan2019

I would definitely recommend Crewe. The station is sprawling and has abandoned parts with lines going into the Locomotive Services depot. Plus you get a good variety of trains old and new passing through. Then there's the Crewe independent avoiding lines just outside the station.

I've been watching a few train cab view videos recently and noticed around some London and southeast stations there's walls graffiti tagged, not just quick sprays but multicoloured, right opposite the platform. How do they get away with it in full view of station security cameras?

There was an Avanti livered AT300 in platform 2 at Crewe this evening, looked great. Departed around 17:00 for Euston. Yesterday evening I saw an unbranded AT300 at Crewe, took up the entire platform 4. Maybe it was the viewpoint angle but I think it was sticking out the end of the platform...

The allocations are usually viewable later on the night before. EMR have been operating 4 & 5 carriages on odd weekends recently so may be the same for this extra tomorrow.

Definitely still see a variety of 350s on the Stoke On Trent route. I guess the ultimate mixture (8 carriages) elsewhere though would be seeing the Eurovision branded one coupled to an old stickered London Midland with green seats.

Strange how the purple route misses out on boxing day and new year's day services. Regarding freight trains on boxing Day throughout the UK though, what about newspaper trains? Would there have been newspapers on boxing day in years gone by and were they delivered by rail like on normal days...

Back in the 80s and possibly 70s, Sheffield operated Christmas day bus services. I was too young to remember the exact details but in recent years I did track down the timetables for Christmas 1985 I think. Back then, Sheffield had an extensive night bus network but I've no details if these ever...

Thanks for the link above. Looks great as a departure board view with horizontal scrolling destination places, until it speeds up!

Love the train allocation graphics this year. I look forward to seeing this train and route details each year. Been keeping an eye on real time trains the past week waiting for this to appear! Currently showing as being at platform - North Pole. I've only just noticed at all the stations (I...

Just noticed the times and route listed for this year's Christmas special on Real Time Trains: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S73184/2023-12-24/detailed

Real Time Trains shows it as cancelled due to train operators request. The train was still there in platform 3 when I left after 5pm.

Having travelled through Ardwick station many times I've often wondered how the current bridge is still standing and safe to use with all the rust. I'm curious to know now that Ardwick is getting a new bridge, will any of the other Northern stations with bridge issues get a new bridge e.g...

Welcome to the forum I'm also interested in asbestos on the UK railway strangely enough. I can recommend trying the 'what do they know ' website as there are quite a few asbestos survey reports requested via freedom of information act. Definitely one on there for Crewe station.

Good question. I've often wondered about ticket checking policies. I have a smart card season ticket with separate photocard, traveling 5 days a week. 4 carriage train, not even half full. Varied range of experiences as below, photocard always shown with smartcard: 1. No sight or sound (no...

What were the shifts and opening times for small station booking offices in the 70s and 80s compared to current shifts and opening times please? By small station, think 2 platforms, current booking office opening times Monday to Saturday say 6am to 12pm mid-day, closed Sundays. Station served...