Conference rdgeng::railways_uk

Travelling back by train last night I witnessed a sight I usually read about in
the rail press.

I arrived at Reading at 18:05 and heard an announcement of a very late running
Manchester Picadilly service.
Had to be Intercity Cross Country service, either HST or 47/8, and the betting 
had to be on a 47/8 being the problem, as the HST's are generally pretty 
reliable.

Went out on to the station and I could see the tail end of the train - loco 
hauled definitely.
Went to the front and there were - two class 73's running on Diesel!

Fitters were crawling over the coupling between the engines so there was a 
problem somewhere.
I actually deliberately missed my train (at 18:22) to watch it leave as the 
fitters seemed happy with their work.
I hoped the two 73's would power the train out with the diesels "thumping" away,
when the time came the train motored out sedately - perhaps the 73's diesel
engine isn't one of those sorts of engines.
The train didn't have refreshment facilities and had scant passengers - well it
did have quite a few rail enthusiasts.
No idea how fast 73's can go on their diesel engines, 60 mph at a push perhaps,
but it was bound to be a sedate journey.

What I don't understand is why they bothered with this train in the first place.

Due to leave Reading 18:55, was the Poole - Manchester Picadilly HST.
Although it would leave Reading 30 minutes later than the 73 hauled effort it
would be quicker, have a buffet, and not be full of rail enthusisasts!
(and probably be warmer too - can 73's provide train heating?).

It's an Intercity Cross Country train, as was the very delayed original (a
Brighton - Manchester) so the tickets should have all been valid.
Well okay perhaps not!


Roger

Travelling to a meeting in HHl yesterday, I saw the cutters were busy in 
Old Oak Common yard.

The derelict class 47's had been reduced to two, with a single class 33 
left. There was a large heap of 47 remains and a smouldering underframe 
getting the attention.

John

    Not a lot of people know this, but during the first years of the
    Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line, opened in 1842, the station announcers
    were parrots. Apparently the birds were hired to announce "Haymarket"
    to alighting passengers.
    
    However by 1945, no parrots were left. The accepted explaination is
    that all the smoke got into their lungs, and the squawkers croaked.
    
    But there is a better explaination. With all the whistles, bells, etc
    going on in the station, they found more interesting noises to emulate,
    and soon didn't bother to shout "Haymarket".
    
    Result ?  Redundancy.