From my mailbox ...


Noting the "FOI" comment.  I guess that means that once our local TOC is government run, we may have another route to finding out information (usually after the act, sadly) as well as having somewhat less of the query redirection / responsibility attribution when questionable things come to light

 
From the BBC:

 
That explains the orange train that passed Southbound in the Worle area, though not sure where it was heading to

 
At the risk of digressing from the original point, I’d love to know how a train manager would make it through some of the packed commuter trains that we know occur on a daily basis, waving a bunch of keys for the fire extinguisher cupboard, potentially with hundreds of passengers coming in the opposite direction to avoid a fire.

 
It's... yup. *Sits on hands*.

Mark

 

Believe so .... here's where the IET has come from

 
Reading elsewhere that the "Up" sleeper broke down last night and was replaced by a 5 car IET?

 
Napoleon Bonaparte tried to go round the back of Waterloo - and see where that got him.

JayMac has said, he and Finn were 'abroad'.

I won't spoil it by giving any more detail.

 
Thank you to all of you Coffee Shop forum members here for your 'likes' to our previous posts on this topic.

May I also record here my thanks to grahame's wife Lisa. I first met her some 16 years ago, when I attended a meeting in Melksham. Lisa is in some ways 'the power behind the throne', in that she is so supportive of grahame, while she herself remains very low profile on the forum - she is a registered member.

Thank you, too, Lisa. 

Chris from Nailsea. 

 
I wonder if that might be round the back of Waterloo.?

 
I get that.  Finn is a popular mascot on the Coffee Shop forum: you, on the other hand ... 

 

While correcting grahame's typo in the above quote, I'll also question Isambard Kingdom Brunel's lack of foresight in not future-proofing that particular length of the GWR: whatever was he thinking of? 

 

Finn has the necessary paperwork for both countries we're visiting. A story for another day after the picture is identified. He was checked at the point of entry. I wasn't.

 

 
My understanding is that fire extinguishers, among other emergency equipment, are kept within compartments accessible to train staff on board.

To avoid their misuse, understandably. 

 
By the way, did our Coffee Shop forum mascot Finn also go there?  Does he have a British passport, dual nationality or electronic travel authorisation?

See https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29537.0 

 
I now know where it is, but I cheated, so I won't post an answer here. 

 
From the BBC:

 
John, in reply No. 5, Graham linked to my post back in 2017 on the subject of grade separation at Didcot East but I could not see the link to the original diagram I posted in the search result. So below is the diagram and the text is in the link found by Graham above.

 

Indeed. There are few areas of Plymouth and its surrounding areas already better served by public transport than this one.

 
Nice to see you posting again.  Retirement can be so busy. 

Returning to topic.  Domestic users also had to apply for fuel coupons.  They were never used but focussed the mind.

Weekend leisure driving was also discouraged.

 

You are so funny. 

 
Afterwards.....

 
The line east of Didcot was quadrupled (and remains 4 track), there was a short section west of Didcot.   

Money was clearly tight, as never managed to extend 4 tracks throughout west and north of Didcot, although did quadruple Challow to Wantage Road (1932-34) including the stations, so fast trains could overtake stoppers and freight.  And was a section with 4 tracks approaching Swindon.

It would be relatively easy to reinstate lifted freight loops Didcot-Oxford.   Of course it's unclear if actually need 4 tracks, or if 3 tracks with a reversible slow in the centre would be sufficient

Near Oxford the (partly former) freight yards make doing section north of Crowley Bridge easy to have 4 running tracks.   The layout of Oxford station suggests would be better to have freight on centre tracks with outside ones as fast, off top of my head can't think of any passenger tracks that pass the station non stop.

The big problem really is flat junction at Didcot, the fast line from London has to cross everything on flat due to lack of flyover, really need to be able to segregate to avoid conflicting moves.     Obviously really need any flyover lines and how it arranges fast-slow etc to be consistent with layout nearer Oxford.

I do wonder if a new line diverging south of Radley, passing between Abingdon and Sutton Courtenay, passing north of Sutton Wick, crossing A34, then heading direct to near Challow is better option.  But I am thinking big, with a Bristol - Bath - Corsham - Swindon - Abingdon (new station) - Oxford - Bicester - onwards East West route

 
No comfort for those who can only use accessible toilets but at least there is a second smaller toilet for those who can access those. 

 
Taunton 

 
A much needed two weeks off from the full time care of Mumsy. With a week abroad.

Where were we today, 4th May 2026?

 
Public transport should be one of the last forms of transport to be reduced to save fuel, the first measure should be as with the 1973 fuel crisis a temporary measure to reduce fuel consumption a 50 mph speed limit on all roads was introduced.  (This did result in the 1974 of the introduction of the National speed limit of 60 mph and 70 mph)

 

Agreed.

Three tracks to Radley are likely to form part of the Oxford<>Cowley reinstatement AIUI.  There is available width within the existing boundary.

South of there?  Costly to say the least.  Three stations and two Thames crossings within a few short miles to deal with for starters!

Grade separation at Didcot East (and DID<>OXF electrification) would be much higher on the priority list IMHO.

 

They do, yes.