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  1. AlistairCowell

    Google Consent Statements…

    It has been seen before, but I’ve noticed in the last week that more websites are now receiving a ‘Google Consent’ statement which you have to respond before using the site. Even this forum has got a ‘Google Consent’ panel, and even some apps have got them. I got that statement when I used one...
  2. AlistairCowell

    Sir Michael Parkinson Dies

    Just heard that Sir Michael Parkinson has died aged 88. I remember him on ITV (STV where I live) in the 2000s and he was on SunLife ads. He had his own TV show Parkinson as most will remember. He was a friend of the former comedian Billy Connolly. He will be sadly missed...
  3. AlistairCowell

    UKTrainSim to close soon

    Evening folks I've just learned that UKTrainSim.com is closing down in the next few months, according to Matt Peddlesden last Friday. He said: "It is going down at some point permanently, little while yet, but no longer has a future"...
  4. AlistairCowell

    Extra-door (Engine room) on low-emission Class 66 locomotives

    As I understand, there is an extra door on the low-emission Class 66 locomotives (or JT42CWRm) to allow access to the engine room. The reason behind this is because the size of engine and radiator arrangements prevented direct access from the cab. Which end the cab has no access to the engine...
  5. AlistairCowell

    Class 47 buffer beam areas

    Class 47 locomotives were originally built with lower buffer beams (or fairings). Since around in 1990s, the locos began to appear with their buffer beam fairings removed. Not all locomotives were so treated and some 47s still have buffer beam fairings today. I think 47299 was the first...
  6. AlistairCowell

    Class 318 - was unit 318270 an additional unit?

    As we may or may not know, unit 318270 had vehicles 77288 + 62890 + 77289, and was not numbered sequentially like 318250 to 318269. According to the British Rail At Work: Scotrail book by Colin Boocock, it was mentioned that 20 Class 318 units would be built. Is it true that 318270 was added to...
  7. AlistairCowell

    Trivia: Proposed Glasgow Subway Stock

    There were a few occasions pre-modernisation that rolling stock have been proposed. Firstly, the 1948 proposed extension would see the new rolling stock, which would have been a two-car unit, and would be based on continental tram instead on the tube train already used on 1896 built original...
  8. AlistairCowell

    Earthport in 2081: The large tube trains that travels through the centre of the earth

    When I was at primary school as a kid, I read a book called 'The Young Engineer Book of Supertrains', and there was a page about the trains in the future, one of topics was about intercontinental vacuum tube trains that go through the centre of the Earth! This concept is called 'Earthport', set...
  9. AlistairCowell

    GBRF Class 66: Engine for 66779

    As far as I know, a GBRF Class 66 locomotive in BR Green, 66779 'Evening Star', has a diesel engine that was recovered from 66734 that was scrapped following a derailment at Loch Treig in 2012. The original Class 66s had 2N-710G3B-EC engines (which is a case for 66734, ex-66402), while...
  10. AlistairCowell

    Proposed Postal Class 300 EMUs

    In 1990, there was an artist's impression of the proposed dual-voltage parcel electric unit, as shown on page 16 of the "Future Rail - The Next Decade" brochure: https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_Future001.pdf It is described as a 'new' unit, but it was strictly based on the Class...
  11. AlistairCowell

    Virgin Trains proposed Virgin Value Class

    In the late 1990s, Virgin Trains was initially planning to have three classes for passengers for the then new Voyager and Pendolino trains, which they were in the drawing board at the time. There were going to be First Class (Club Class in Voyagers), Standard Class, and a cheap no-frills class...
  12. AlistairCowell

    Great Western 'Merlin' Livery

    Hi folks As far as I know, there have been HSTs in 'Merlin' green and white livery before First took over in the late 1990s. There were Class 47 in Green 'Merlin' livery as well. Is there other vehicles that were in 'Merlin' livery? I think there were Mk3 sleeper cars for the 'Night Rivera'...
  13. AlistairCowell

    Class 221 - units 221142 and 221143

    As I understand, the last four Class 221 units to be built for Virgin Trains, units 221141 to 221144, were originally four-cars (the rest were five-cars). But around 2010, units 221142 and 221143 were extended to five-cars by taking vehicles off unit 221144. Unit 221142 received 60994 (an ex...
  14. AlistairCowell

    Could the Coronavirus 'burn out' in the UK?

    Earlier this month on Sky News website, there was an article with the headlines: 'Coronavirus is cornered and will burn out due to UK distancing measures'. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-is-cornered-and-will-burn-out-due-to-uk-distancing-measures-ex-who-official-says-11967018 With...
  15. AlistairCowell

    TV presenter Nicholas Parsons dies

    Just saw it on TV that presenter Nicholas Parsons has died, more details to follow. RIP Nicholas Parsons https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51278023
  16. AlistairCowell

    Glasgow Subway stations

    Hi Folks :D I've noticed that all stations that I have seen recently that much of the ceilings has been removed. Also, on island platform stations, some of the panels were removed. The system is supposed to be modernised, some stations only received new tiles for the floor, walkway and tunnel...
  17. AlistairCowell

    GA Class 317 accessibility modifications

    Hi Folks As far as I know, the Greater Anglia Class 317 are having PRM-TSI mods at Wabtec Doncaster. I had looked at the photos that the windows still appear to remain the same (including old toilet windows). Probably door opening alarms and stuff. Regarding the toilets on board, are they...
  18. AlistairCowell

    Argyle Line - 40 Years On

    It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks 40 years to the day that the Argyle Line opened to passenger traffic, and thus links the electrified North Clyde Line with the rest of Glasgow electrified lines south of the Clyde (and beyond) for the first time. The Argyle Line had been part of Glasgow...
  19. AlistairCowell

    Class 153 question

    Hi folks As we all know Class 153 units have two dissimilar cabs, the no.1 cab being the original one (as on the Class 155 units), while the no.2 cab (the new one) has a cab close to the original design, except the cab is obviously smaller than the no.1 end for a start, the gangway is folded...
  20. AlistairCowell

    Dog boards Irish Train alone

    A terrier has managed to board the 8:46am alone to Dublin Heuston without a ticket: https://news.sky.com/story/amp/hamish-the-train-riding-dogs-owners-are-found-11684341 Fortunately the owner of the train-riding dog has been found and the reunion is being planned.

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