Recent content by WAO

The video in #242 is transformative and makes much modern design and practice obsolete. Perhaps re-design is the reason for delays in wiring and power upgrades? WAO

But it did originally. My point is that modern alterations neglect the passenger - as your comment shows! WAO

It looks like the new Huddersfield platform awnings are tapered upwards like at Reading - modern chic architecturally but they direct wind and rain on to the waiting customers below. The old train shed is just functional but it does what it (should) say/s on the tin - shelter from inclement...

The approaches to Lime Street were supplied (for quite a short distance) from the small Speke Feeder Station, which is now rather more busy. Perhaps the latest passenger traction should have had the local ability to limit current drawing, the loss of performance would be minor. The 91's had...

Point well made. Had the 503 been stabled nearer Merseyside, it, like the 502, might have found a viable sized group of working supporters. This wasn't possible at the time in spite of all efforts. Some may recall the fate of the 73/0 being extracted from Birkenhead North... The 503 was in...

The 503 was in trouble from the start. While it was "preserved" at withdrawal, the Local Authority sponsoring it soon wearied and had it stored in the siding under the Mersey for a decade. When a preservation group took an interest, the owners only released two cars, retaining the driving...

This is a very good idea, generally. Not only would there be fewer types of stock with more standardisation but the trains would be "upwardly mobile", capable of whatever the Civils and S&T could produce for them. The PR effect would be magic. This would lead to a 1970's virtuous circle of one...

I wonder if an extension just to outer Wroxall, as far south as was possible, to a "Ventnor Parkway", might be worth a bid. It's about 3km short of the resort but a bus link would have the advantage of serving both the upper town and seafront. If it succeeded then it might be practicable to...

IIRC, Ventnor has declined considerably relative to Sandown and Shanklin since losing the railway in 1966. It could have been saved if the Local Authority had provided the extra cost above BR's limited budget. This would have been borrowed over a long period, only slightly increasing the Rates...

The answer to this depends on whether you want to make rail operation easier or facilitate travel around Reading. The rebuilding of Reading station included much expensive junction work linking the Basingstoke line with the GWML westwards. Given the choice, I would have preferred Green Park...

....and the inspection and detailed testing both statically and under load has to satisfy the various stakeholders before being presented to ORR for signing off/approval to use. That's when ORR does earn its money. Previously, IIRC, ORR has been quite prompt about this, if all's well. After...

The mention of the Palestine Railways is very timely. It was IIRC built the army (ours) as a standard gauge widening of the previous Turkish 1.0/1.05m gauge system and was state owned from 1920, well before BR! It connected Haifa through Gaza to El Kantara in Egypt and had the benefit of Sir...

Your perspective. WAO

Electrification would only be applicable to a heritage railway for the same reasons as on the commercial railway; when there is the frequency and weight of traffic to warrant it, along with the availability of attractive rolling stock. One could erect a "dead" section of OLE or third rail for...

I don't think that there's any mileage in immersion heaters in boilers and pantographs on tenders - the thermodynamics are all wrong. What might be possible is a LNG/CNG (Methane) tank in the tender. The gas burner would be automatically controlled (no fire-person needed and firing up would be...