GBR Livery

[Osgood]

....and I’ve always considered myself an optimist…

Optimism - the tendency to believe that everything will turn out alright, even when there's overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Optimism - the tendency to believe that everything will turn out alright, even when there's overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

A bit like building an Ace kit !

 

[James]

UK lost the argument at the EU standards body to retain the mandatory yellow fronts even with the now mandatory high power headlights. I have no argument with the lights which certainly make trains more visible. When Heathrow Express was introduced the company attempted to obtain a derogation to the requirement for a yellow front as these trains had the UIC headlight arrangement. I was a member of the Rolling Stock Subject Committee for the meeting that considered the application. We rejected it on the grounds that yellow is the colour that remains most visible for people losing their eyesight (think of old lady walking her dogs across an occupation crossing) so had a safety benefit; the application of yellow costs very little so was a reasonably practicable measure to be applied under UK Health and Safety law. The meeting was observed by HMRI's Technical Director, Alan Cooksey, who commentated that we had made the only possible decision in rejecting the application.

Later under the EU Interoperability Directives the use of Technical Standards for Interoperability and associated Euronorms was enshrined in UK law with no possibility of requiring additional or different requirements. Hence the lack of yellow fronts (and more expensive problems such as cracking on Intercity trains). However, IIRC ORR has required a risk assessment for any decision to not apply yellow fronts as an additional safety measure. Perhaps someone in DfT appreciates the issue.

If you work on track yellow warning panels don't really add much to seeing oncoming trains.

With the end of Red Zone working with unassisted Look Outs it's far less of an issue now.

 

[James]

Up 'till now I thought that the current TransPennine Express livery was the worst, over fussy, design but this is vomit inducing!

I loved the TPE livery on the 68s!

https://flic.kr/p/2phEwFd

https://flic.kr/p/2m9pi89

 

[Genghis]

If you work on track yellow warning panels don't really add much to seeing oncoming trains.

With the end of Red Zone working with unassisted Look Outs it's far less of an issue now.

True, but if you are a member of the public with diminishing vision crossing the railway at one of the thousands of authorised crossing points every aid helps.

 

[J_F_S]

I was taking the piss.

... so I understood.

Nationalising the railway properly is about the only thing I agree with so far

... and my point is that they are NOT nationalising the railways by any reasonable definition of the term. At best, they are replacing the current hopelessly inefficient way of running some of the passenger services with a potentially much less inefficient one - but that is as far as I can go with any positives; the rest of the current nonsense continues untouched as I described.

For concrete policy examples; in terms of Public Service, just look at recent changes to the ticketting system (already under DfT control) including eliminating, (LNER) or out-princing, (GWR) walk-up fares - a walk-up standard class ticket from Temple Meads to Paddington is £277.00 - that will tempt no one out of their Tesla. In terms of infrastructure investment look at the "indefinite postponement" of the Midland Main Line and GW Extension electrifications. The £20 note in pocket says niether of these will ever happen...

So, to me at least, this is another area where people - including me - are/were hoping for real change from the latest lot but hard evidence so far tells me that we will be sorely disappointed.

 

[Osgood]

..... - a walk-up standard class ticket from Temple Meads to Paddington is £277.00 - that will tempt no one out of their Tesla. ...

What an absolute mess this has become - as far removed from a casual turn-up-and-go user-friendly system as one could imagine.
No doubt a limited number of advance tickets (maybe 3 days hence) could be purchased for £12 or so - this is what the stupid walk-up fares subsidise.

 

[James]

True, but if you are a member of the public with diminishing vision crossing the railway at one of the thousands of authorised crossing points every aid helps.

That's very true.

Lights remain key I think. Various warming panels now contribute very little - LSL's Blue Pullman's briefly carried warning panels were just silly! But a proper yellow ends like though!

 

[simond]

As the nice lady from Tesco said,

”every little helps”

S

 

[hrmspaul]

I loved the TPE livery on the 68s!

But you cannot hear them in a still photo! Yes, they looked very good but were too noisy. Class 68 for Transpennine | 68026 Enterprise Transpennine Class 68 Built Stadler, Valencia Spain No. 2944 in 2017 @ York Holgate Junction 2021-06-23 © Paul Bartlett Class 68 for Transpennine | 68031 Felix Transpennine & 1529 Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough @ York Holgate Junction 2021-09-09 © Paul Bartlett

I don't know if anyone worried about TPE and Northern having different stock, the problem that was forced on TPE was three completely different types of stock that every member of staff had to be trained in and on. And Covid screwed the training programme.

Paul

Class 68 for Transpennine

The 100mph Class 68 for new Transpennine locomotive hauled services. Built by Staedler 2015-17. Powered by a 3,800 horsepower Caterpillar C175-16 prime mover, giving power to 4 frame mounted ABB traction motors, producing 71,000lbf of tractive effort. They are winning a reputation amongst people...

paulbartlett.zenfolio.com

 

[James]

But you cannot hear them in a still photo! Yes, they looked very good but were too noisy. Class 68 for Transpennine | 68026 Enterprise Transpennine Class 68 Built Stadler, Valencia Spain No. 2944 in 2017 @ York Holgate Junction 2021-06-23 © Paul Bartlett Class 68 for Transpennine | 68031 Felix Transpennine & 1529 Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough @ York Holgate Junction 2021-09-09 © Paul Bartlett

I don't know if anyone worried about TPE and Northern having different stock, the problem that was forced on TPE was three completely different types of stock that every member of staff had to be trained in and on. And Covid screwed the training programme.

Paul

Class 68 for Transpennine

The 100mph Class 68 for new Transpennine locomotive hauled services. Built by Staedler 2015-17. Powered by a 3,800 horsepower Caterpillar C175-16 prime mover, giving power to 4 frame mounted ABB traction motors, producing 71,000lbf of tractive effort. They are winning a reputation amongst people...

paulbartlett.zenfolio.com

They sounded fantastic! If I got a shift at Weaverthorpe I loved it when they passed the box at speed But if you rang Seamer for anything, if one was stood by the box you'd not be able to hear anything.

There were various issues regarding crews, such as train crew not being allowed to couple and uncouple locos. A fitter had to attend to carry out the task.

https://flic.kr/p/2iXFm46

It was lovely having proper loco hauled trains, if only it was a brief interlude.

https://flic.kr/p/2m9jTfA

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

At the end of the day, as a regular commuter I don't really care what colour the train is as long as it's clean inside and out, has sufficient seating capacity (ha ha ), is punctual and reliable.