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His name was “Scottie”. Yes, he was very enthusiastic and helpful for sure. He always seemed like a “Whirling Dervish” to me, always rushing about, helping passengers, doing things. I met him on a LNWR train recently with “Mrs. Scottie” - he was very chatty and still enthusiastic, though he has...

Reproduced from Hornby Hobbies “The Collector” magazine recently there is a picture of a train near Durham. Nothing special in that, however, the engine has just passed under a semaphore signal with home and distant arms and between them is what looks like a subsidiary or calling on arm. All the...

I agree, the doors were slow. They were modified latterly however, and became slightly quicker at opening, but I did see some guards pushing the door open with their hands to speed up the door opoening process. Travelling on the line last year we were waiting time at a many stations, but that...

As well as the rear cab, the 230s could be worked from the door in the centre of the train in each carriage. There was no PA installed however for the station to be announced when "Doris" was not working. The TVMs do not accept cash, so anybody without a smart mobile would be unable to buy a...

Thank you for your reply. I thought the same as you, penalty fares were not in operation on the line, but passing Bow Brickhill this morning, a poster advising this was a penalty fare station was displayed. I cannot find anything on the LNWR website giving the limits of the Penalty fare area...

A query some may be able answer. Is the Marston Vale line included in the Penalty fare scheme? I seem to recall this line as well as the Abbey was not included in the sheme in times past. As far as I can see there is no current (post Jan 23) map of the penalty fare stations.

Yes, the date of next Monday, 24th is confirmed in the internal "Yammer" WMT post by the Comms dept. They are looking for photographs of the train's arrival in Bletchley. No times given as yet though.

Very interesting and thank you all for your replies.

Prior to re the re-grouping in 1923, when there were about 120 different railway companies, I was wondering if you were able to buy a ticket from say Elgin to Carlisle and travel over any private companies routes, whether it be the Highland Railway, North British, Caledonian, GNSR etc. In other...

As a Bletchley guard working the line, I always enjoyed working the trains when they were working. Reliability was atrocious at some points as we all know - I remember one day, going up Brogborough bank from Lidlington at 5mph all the way! Generally, most of the guards and drivers enjoyed the...

I have a cutting showing the introduction of the 230s in September 2018. The last recorded picture I have one on the branch is May 2019, so it was sometime after this.

Looking at the line as a whole, the service should be able to run like clockwork. We were promised 7 day a week running, however COVID soon pit paid to that and it does not appear to be coming back any time soon. The stations are very well kept, even now, with no rail passengers they are fully...

Not as much as it used to have, but there a regular car flows to the continent and ROG transfer traffic.

I do not consider so. Too much use as a freight route. Remember, 7 years ago the line was to be electrified.

Yes, you are correct. I was making a general point that these days we shut all lines down and run buses, whereas in former times, perhaps we would have run a train service using SLW and Pilotman working. The default position these days is "run buses" (or nothing at all).

No, in the 70s, 80s and 90s until privatisation the railway would most certainly have kept the line open and there would be a desire across the network, to keep trains moving, by SLW, Pilotman working to/from an obstruction etc. There was an inherent desire to keep traffic moving. Case in...

We are talking about an era when operators would not throw the towel in at the first opportunity and run buses. When was the last time you saw Single Line working in operation to facilitate working, or a case on my line, pilotman working when Fenny Stratford LC was a failure?

Kempston Hardwick AHB worked well in class 150/153 days. The 230s gave the barriers a wobble due to Track circuit problems and a flagman was appointed. The up direction was somehow fixed and the flagman withdrawn, however in the down direction the driver was required to call the Signalbox at...

As a guard that works on the line, I simply cannot see why common sense does not prevail -derogation for the 153s, (after all the line is very short and if we can run Elizabeth Line trains from Reading to London without lavatories we can certainly manage our line - one would think?). Failing...

I’ve noticed this too. My first train today from EUS to RUG was lacking them in both first class saloons. They look even more ordinary now.