I posted a few pics of one of the leaf cleaners (Railhead Treatment Trains or RHTT) a while back.

Today I spotted this RHTT waiting at the signal outside East Croydon.



This gives a better view of the "tanks" that contain the mixture that is sprayed on the rails.

Here a close up of 73965,



Also a longer view just as one of the newest Thameslink EMU's passes.

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Nice, Bernie.

I really need to post some of my recent pictures one of these days.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

That is one of the Brush re-engined class 73/9s - lots of new equipment inside, more power and less noise when running in diesel mode, but about the same in electric mode. The old 600hp English Electric 4SRKT having been replaced with a 1600hp MTU engine, which gives them about the same power at rail in both diesel and electric (750v DC, third rail) modes - making a useful small engine out of what was an "old knacker".

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

That is one of the Brush re-engined class 73/9s - lots of new equipment inside, more power and less noise when running in diesel mode, but about the same in electric mode. The old 600hp English Electric 4SRKT having been replaced with a 1600hp MTU engine, which gives them about the same power at rail in both diesel and electric (750v DC, third rail) modes - making a useful small engine out of what was an "old knacker".

There's nothing wrong with a little recycling, just gives some muscle to some older hardware, sweet.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Communist Rail
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_CUBA_TRAINS_PHOTO_GALLERY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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The UK's somewhat lowbrow 'Channel 5' TV channel has been running a second series of:

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (I don't know if there are any national restrictions on that link)

(Chris Tarrant is a somewhat lowbrow UK rent-a-presenter, but you can always turn down the volume...)

They showed a fair variety of Cuban routes and equipment last week: tonight was Japan, and they're doing Canada next week. Nothing very technical, but they do cover a wide range of trains each episode, albeit superficially. Much more train action than Michael Portillo's matching offering on the BBC.

Bullet train project actually on track

Re "Bullet train likely to miss budget, deadline targets" (Page 3A, Oct. 25): A recent report on the California high-speed rail gave readers a dramatic but false impression of where our program stands in terms of costs and technical hurdles. In truth, we are making steady progress. Work is underway on the over 100-mile rail segment in the Central Valley, with over $2 billion in construction contracts executed. Drive along Highway 99 and you will see crews.

Although the article had extensive speculation about potential future cost growth, it omitted that the first construction contracts have come in hundreds of millions of dollars below estimates. The article also makes it seem as though no one has thought about the challenge of tunneling through mountain ranges. On the contrary, we have brought in some of the world’s leading tunneling experts and they’re confident of our ability to construct the needed tunnels.

Any infrastructure investment of this size will face risks associated with cost and schedules. To that end, we’ve employed the most advanced risk management strategies available. This approach has resulted in lower costs and faster timelines.

There will be bumps along the way, for sure, and we will be forthright about the difficulties, but the article stands in stark contrast to the progress we’re making.

Jeff Morales, chief executive officer, California High-Speed Rail Authority

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Bullet train project actually on track

As much as it pains me to say this, I find the LA Times report more credible than the head of the government agency being criticized.

And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

+many

Time perhaps for a nice train pic.

This I saw today.



Sunrise reflected off the windows of one of Chicago's office blocks as P42 #16 departs with train 381 destination Quincy, IL.

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And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

+many

If we can be disciplined enough, I'd like to keep discussion of the ACTUAL construction here. I certainly agree that discussion of the politics of it can go to Politics.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

+many

If we can be disciplined enough, I'd like to keep discussion of the ACTUAL construction here. I certainly agree that discussion of the politics of it can go to Politics.

Some I think don't like any talking about HSR in CA, except in the r/w zone, aka Politics.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

+many

If we can be disciplined enough, I'd like to keep discussion of the ACTUAL construction here. I certainly agree that discussion of the politics of it can go to Politics.

Some I think don't like any talking about HSR in CA, except in the r/w zone, aka Politics.

Watching the "construction" of the Merced-Fresno leg, all I see is demolition of buildings in downtown Fresno, and a few bridge pilings at the San Joaquin River crossing at the Fresno-Madera County line. The next leg, Fresno-Bakersfield, the route is still not finalized, although purchase of property and eminent-domain court fights are in progress. Recently, both the Kings County Board of Supervisors, and the Hanford City Council, voted NOT to participate in a study with CHSR Authority to site a station on the east side of Hanford.

CHSR is a highly-divisive subject in the Fresno-Tulare-Kings Counties area. Even discussion of construction progress can devolve into a heated political discussion. The Ballot Proposition authorizing CHSR actually failed in most San Joaquin Valley Counties, but it passed state-wide, so we are stuck with it.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

And I would like to suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

+many

If we can be disciplined enough, I'd like to keep discussion of the ACTUAL construction here. I certainly agree that discussion of the politics of it can go to Politics.

Some I think don't like any talking about HSR in CA, except in the r/w zone, aka Politics.

Watching the "construction" of the Merced-Fresno leg, all I see is demolition of buildings in downtown Fresno, and a few bridge pilings at the San Joaquin River crossing at the Fresno-Madera County line. The next leg, Fresno-Bakersfield, the route is still not finalized, although purchase of property and eminent-domain court fights are in progress. Recently, both the Kings County Board of Supervisors, and the Hanford City Council, voted NOT to participate in a study with CHSR Authority to site a station on the east side of Hanford.

CHSR is a highly-divisive subject in the Fresno-Tulare-Kings Counties area. Even discussion of construction progress can devolve into a heated political discussion. The Ballot Proposition authorizing CHSR actually failed in most San Joaquin Valley Counties, but it passed state-wide, so we are stuck with it.

Not just divisive there, but at the southern end as well where everyone wants it to go through their town but forbid it to go through some other sensitive area. As that route isn't picked yet the politicians are free to monkey, which they will, to help their big campaign donors and have their land values explode. Reminds me of William Mulholland and Fredrick Eaton who knew where the LA aqueduct was going and bought up the land before they bought it up for the city. Then the CHSR politicians will pick a route like city politicians did for the Metro Green Line in Los Angeles that goes almost to a useful destination, but stops short and turns away, so people have to get off and take a shuttle bus to a super major international airport, really making it attractive to ride. I hope the politicians prove me wrong!

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It's really kind of understandable why the railroads in the old days would use dummy companies to buy their rights of way. If the owners knew it was a major railroad buying, they would raise the price. In that regard, it would be nice if the route planners could do their work in secret, doing what's best for the people instead of the politicians.

However, we are still getting too close to politics here.

In regards to CHSR, I want facts here, not personal opinions. I have opinions too, but I'm withholding them.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

It's really kind of understandable why the railroads in the old days would use dummy companies to buy their rights of way. If the owners knew it was a major railroad buying, they would raise the price. In that regard, it would be nice if the route planners could do their work in secret, doing what's best for the people instead of the politicians.

However, we are still getting too close to politics here.

In regards to CHSR, I want facts here, not personal opinions. I have opinions too, but I'm withholding them.

Which is why I objected to Vic's post, and

suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

It's really kind of understandable why the railroads in the old days would use dummy companies to buy their rights of way. If the owners knew it was a major railroad buying, they would raise the price. In that regard, it would be nice if the route planners could do their work in secret, doing what's best for the people instead of the politicians.

However, we are still getting too close to politics here.

In regards to CHSR, I want facts here, not personal opinions. I have opinions too, but I'm withholding them.

Which is why I objected to Vic's post, and

suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

Vic's post was about the politics, but did not express his own opinion. That's barely within my limits. The subsequent discussion has expressed personal opinion (yes, including my own), which is not. If it keeps up, I will start clicking red Xes.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

(Trying to avoid a red-x)

A question - The picture of the mock-up quite clearly shows the train to be a Siemens unit, does anyone know if this is a relation to the high speed units they are delivering to Eurostar for the Channel Tunnel?

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

(Trying to avoid a red-x)

A question - The picture of the mock-up quite clearly shows the train to be a Siemens unit, does anyone know if this is a relation to the high speed units they are delivering to Eurostar for the Channel Tunnel?

Siemens has a factory here in California, that's all I know.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

It's really kind of understandable why the railroads in the old days would use dummy companies to buy their rights of way. If the owners knew it was a major railroad buying, they would raise the price. In that regard, it would be nice if the route planners could do their work in secret, doing what's best for the people instead of the politicians.

However, we are still getting too close to politics here.

In regards to CHSR, I want facts here, not personal opinions. I have opinions too, but I'm withholding them.

Which is why I objected to Vic's post, and

suggest that any further discussion of California HSR should more properly occur in the Politics Forum.

Vic's post was about the politics, but did not express his own opinion. That's barely within my limits. The subsequent discussion has expressed personal opinion (yes, including my own), which is not. If it keeps up, I will start clicking red Xes.

David, I don't think the project is quite far enough along for there to be much of a technical nature to discuss. The rest of the project being so highly politicized I doubt even a discussion of which automatic control method wouldn't devolve into politics. I "+many"'d because of this and discussion needs to be in the politics fora so no one feels the need to red-x and we don't contribute to the mods workload.

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