The Train Thread 2

Message boards : Cafe SETI : The Train Thread 2
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

Previous · 1 . . . 42 · 43 · 44 · 45 · 46 · 47 · 48 . . . 77 · Next

AuthorMessage
Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 4 Jul 99
Posts: 14649
Credit: 200,643,578
RAC: 874
United Kingdom
Message 1806590 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 8:26:54 UTC - in response to Message 1806534.  

Question for the British contingent: How does a guard indicate to the driver to start moving? Is there a term used on UK trains that means "go!" equivalent to "highball" in North America?

For trains which have separate coaches and locomotives: whistle and waved green flag (perhaps at more modern stations, a rigid paddle instead of a flag).

For multiple-unit trains: internal bell signaling system. Two bells for go, one bell for stop. Again, on newer trains, the audio is more of a buzzer than a bell, but the codes (and there are many more of them) are the same.
ID: 1806590 · Report as offensive
W-K 666 Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 18 May 99
Posts: 19012
Credit: 40,757,560
RAC: 67
United Kingdom
Message 1806603 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 10:29:06 UTC - in response to Message 1806554.  

National Railway Museum, York.
It is a five minute walk form the station, so one can just pop in for a few minutes, has some amazing exhibits, the main displays change regularly, has a decent tea room (that is better than those at the station) and it is free!!


(For Eric, if he ever manages to get over here I would suggest the two RAF museums, Hendon on the outskirts of London, and Cosford near Wolverhampton - you could successfully loose him for days in either of them...)

Don't forget the Imperial War Museum Duxford as well, at Birmingham which is near Wolverhampton.
Angela that would mean you would have to plan on at least a week in the Midlands. But there is plenty to see and do, Midlands tourist attractions
ID: 1806603 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1806622 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 12:09:08 UTC - in response to Message 1806566.  

Question for the train aficionados:

Eric loves vintage planes. Every time we travel to a new city, Eric manages to find an aviation museum for us to visit.

So......... what is your favorite train museum and what keeps you going back there again and again?

I can't really answer that. I haven't been to many, and most of them only once. Illinois many times, obviously. Fox River Trolley Museum is even closer to me, but my visits to it are few and far between. Silver Creek & Stephenson in Freeport once. Monticello a few times. I drive through Mendota occasionally, but I've never stopped to visit the museum. The one in St. Louis once. Indiana Transportation Museum once. Hesston once. I'd like to see the one in Green Bay. Last summer, I spent a week in Ohio and checked out several museums; the nicest of them was the Mad River & NKP, but it's also the one I'm least likely to see again, because I saw pretty much all of their collection, whereas most of the others were closed at the time and I saw little, if anything. There are many others around the country I'd like to see: all the museums and tourist lines in Colorado; California State in Sacramento; Orange Empire in the L.A. area; Hoosier Valley; Tennessee Valley; Strasburg and its neighbor across the street, Pennsylvania State; Spencer; Steamtown; Nevada State; a few in Texas (the Dallas streetcar guys would probably let me run, in service); Seashore in CT; Gold Coast in FL; and I'm sure there are others I'm not thinking of.

What attracts me to any particular museum is the size, quality, condition, and uniqueness of its collection, plus the extent of their operation (if any).

I should add that when recommending one to a non-railfan, I would also consider its interpretive efforts. I understand California State is a particularly good example of this, whereas it's one of our greatest criticisms. It's also the thing that other volunteers keep telling me I need to improve in my car talk.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1806622 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1806625 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 12:23:24 UTC - in response to Message 1806590.  

Question for the British contingent: How does a guard indicate to the driver to start moving? Is there a term used on UK trains that means "go!" equivalent to "highball" in North America?

For trains which have separate coaches and locomotives: whistle and waved green flag (perhaps at more modern stations, a rigid paddle instead of a flag).

For multiple-unit trains: internal bell signaling system. Two bells for go, one bell for stop. Again, on newer trains, the audio is more of a buzzer than a bell, but the codes (and there are many more of them) are the same.

Okay, the same as here. I was wondering if there was some word or phrase I should say on the radio when I'm conductor on Percy this month. We do try to use flags (or at least hand signals) to reduce radio chatter, especially on busy days.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1806625 · Report as offensive
Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 4 Jul 99
Posts: 14649
Credit: 200,643,578
RAC: 874
United Kingdom
Message 1806630 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 13:02:48 UTC - in response to Message 1806625.  

Question for the British contingent: How does a guard indicate to the driver to start moving? Is there a term used on UK trains that means "go!" equivalent to "highball" in North America?

For trains which have separate coaches and locomotives: whistle and waved green flag (perhaps at more modern stations, a rigid paddle instead of a flag).

For multiple-unit trains: internal bell signaling system. Two bells for go, one bell for stop. Again, on newer trains, the audio is more of a buzzer than a bell, but the codes (and there are many more of them) are the same.

Okay, the same as here. I was wondering if there was some word or phrase I should say on the radio when I'm conductor on Percy this month. We do try to use flags (or at least hand signals) to reduce radio chatter, especially on busy days.

At a busy junction or terminal station, I'd have thought there'd be too much risk of the wrong driver acting on a 'right away' or similar verbal message on an open, shared, radio channel. The advantage of the internal bell system is that it's two-directional: the driver repeats the signal back to the guard before acting on it, so there's some validation that he (or she) has heard it correctly.
ID: 1806630 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1806631 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 13:04:12 UTC

The train museum in York is the best I've seen so far. There is a very good museum in Montreal, with Canadian built locos, and the train museum near Edmonton, Alberta is a sentimental favourite. They operate a couple of steam engines in the summer, fond memories of riding them with the kids when they were very young.

ID: 1806631 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill592
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 14 Jun 99
Posts: 207
Credit: 104,563
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1806632 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 13:07:09 UTC

Okay, the same as here. I was wondering if there was some word or phrase I should say on the radio when I'm conductor on Percy this month. We do try to use flags (or at least hand signals) to reduce radio chatter, especially on busy days.


I can't answer that David however, here are a few I would definitely recommend
that you NOT transmit over the Radio.

1.allahu akbar

2. sieg heil

etc. etc.

also .... I betting that you will be glad when I go
back from whence I came (in one week) : )

Don't forget the Imperial War Museum Duxford as well, at Birmingham which is near Wolverhampton.
Angela that would mean you would have to plan on at least a week in the Midlands. But there is plenty to see and do, Midlands tourist attractions


I'd pay the price of admission just to see the Vulcan Bomber !

Awesome )

Bill
ID: 1806632 · Report as offensive
rob smith Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 7 Mar 03
Posts: 22158
Credit: 416,307,556
RAC: 380
United Kingdom
Message 1806650 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 14:33:42 UTC

...the Vulcan at Cosford is not very well displayed, but there is one at Doncaster which if you book the right visit you can have a guided walk round and be there when they do a ground run of the engines at high power - not quiet
Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?
ID: 1806650 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill592
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 14 Jun 99
Posts: 207
Credit: 104,563
RAC: 0
United States
Message 1806652 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 14:45:39 UTC - in response to Message 1806650.  

...the Vulcan at Cosford is not very well displayed, but there is one at Doncaster which if you book the right visit you can have a guided walk round and be there when they do a ground run of the engines at high power - not quiet


Thanks for that info Rob !

Bill
ID: 1806652 · Report as offensive
Profile betreger Project Donor
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 29 Jun 99
Posts: 11358
Credit: 29,581,041
RAC: 66
United States
Message 1806668 - Posted: 2 Aug 2016, 15:43:18 UTC - in response to Message 1806543.  


Eric loves vintage planes. Every time we travel to a new city, Eric manages to find an aviation museum for us to visit.

If he hasn't yet he needs to go to Seattle and visit The Museum of Flight.
ID: 1806668 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1806702 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 0:53:16 UTC - in response to Message 1806630.  

Question for the British contingent: How does a guard indicate to the driver to start moving? Is there a term used on UK trains that means "go!" equivalent to "highball" in North America?

For trains which have separate coaches and locomotives: whistle and waved green flag (perhaps at more modern stations, a rigid paddle instead of a flag).

For multiple-unit trains: internal bell signaling system. Two bells for go, one bell for stop. Again, on newer trains, the audio is more of a buzzer than a bell, but the codes (and there are many more of them) are the same.

Okay, the same as here. I was wondering if there was some word or phrase I should say on the radio when I'm conductor on Percy this month. We do try to use flags (or at least hand signals) to reduce radio chatter, especially on busy days.

At a busy junction or terminal station, I'd have thought there'd be too much risk of the wrong driver acting on a 'right away' or similar verbal message on an open, shared, radio channel. The advantage of the internal bell system is that it's two-directional: the driver repeats the signal back to the guard before acting on it, so there's some validation that he (or she) has heard it correctly.

Over here (museum or real world), a highball given on the radio includes the train ID. Whether the command is given by radio or other means, the response is always two short toots of the whistle/horn before actually starting to move. This also serves as a warning to anyone nearby that the train is about to move; as such, even one-man cars do it.

At the museum, it is preferred for conductors to signal internally on cars so equipped, but I tend to forget. If I'm not near the bell when I remember, I might just say "ding ding" out loud.

Back to my original purpose in asking, I suppose when I do Percy, I'll probably do it by radio so all my trainmen hear it too. Being on Percy himself, I'll be isolated from the coaches. I'm thinking I'll appoint a lead trainman who will report to me when all of them are ready to go.

If it's the same as last year, the dispatcher will give me an order to work between station track two and some point to the east. That way, he won't have to talk to me again until the end of the day. Conversely, he has to give Thomas an order for every trip because he has to stop the streetcars first, and then again when Thomas comes back. The conflict will be if he's giving Thomas the return order when I'm trying to give a highball.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1806702 · Report as offensive
Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 Oct 07
Posts: 13130
Credit: 39,854,104
RAC: 31
United States
Message 1806732 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 5:22:52 UTC

I am really enjoying lurking in this thread. Also, thank you for all of the plane museum recommendations!
ID: 1806732 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1806737 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 6:11:12 UTC
Last modified: 3 Aug 2016, 14:11:03 UTC

Whilst I have been to the NRM and enjoyed it. I found all those magnificent machines together under one roof somehow a little sad.

Many of them will never move under their own power again.

I much prefer the "living museums" we have in the shape of the preserved railways.

In fact I visited a new one for the first time yesterday The Mid Hants Railway or Watercress Line

The line runs 10 miles from Alton to Alresford with the stations of Meadsted and Ropley in between.

This time of year they run two steam engines and old Southern Railway coaches.

This was the engine for my first trip



Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2 41312

Back in steam since January this year. As many will say there is nothing quite like standing next to a working steam loco, and here on the Mid Hants the staff drivers and firemen were passionate, several young children were given tours on the footplate.

However it is the whole experience that makes it special. I haven't ridden in a carriage like this since I was a schoolboy.





And stations like this disappeared over the years.



Because the line has no turntable or wye, the engines "run around" the train for the return journey, but always face in the same direction.

Here is 41312 returning to Alton facing the the "right way".



Here is the other engine doing the "run around" at Alresford



It is BR Standard class 4 2-6-0 76017.

This was the carriage I traveled back on.



And 41312 running around.



I actually took quite a bit of video, however I am currently using "hotel" Wi-Fi and it has taken ages just to get these few pictures uploaded.

I will hopefully post a video or two when I am home again at the weekend.
ID: 1806737 · Report as offensive
W-K 666 Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 18 May 99
Posts: 19012
Credit: 40,757,560
RAC: 67
United Kingdom
Message 1806759 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 9:53:26 UTC - in response to Message 1806737.  
Last modified: 3 Aug 2016, 9:55:06 UTC

snipped...



It is BR Standard class 4 2-6-9 76017, commonly known as Black 5's.

That be a BR Class 4 "Mogul", a Black 5 is a LMS Stanier Class 5MT (Mixed Traffic) 4-6-0

snipped

Otherwise, thanks, nice post.
ID: 1806759 · Report as offensive
Profile Mike Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 17 Feb 01
Posts: 34253
Credit: 79,922,639
RAC: 80
Germany
Message 1806777 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 12:22:36 UTC

I like those pics Bernie.


With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.
ID: 1806777 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1806790 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 14:09:40 UTC - in response to Message 1806759.  

[quote]snipped...


That be a BR Class 4 "Mogul", a Black 5 is a LMS Stanier Class 5MT (Mixed Traffic) 4-6-0

snipped

Otherwise, thanks, nice post.

Yes you are correct, I thought I had removed that! I was looking up too may things on Google!! I blame hotel Wi-Fi and no mouse, I don't like touch pads!!
ID: 1806790 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1806815 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 16:19:47 UTC - in response to Message 1806737.  

Whilst I have been to the NRM and enjoyed it. I found all those magnificent machines together under one roof somehow a little sad.

Many of them will never move under their own power again.

I much prefer the "living museums" we have in the shape of the preserved railways.

I know what you mean.


In fact I visited a new one for the first time yesterday The Mid Hants Railway or Watercress Line

The line runs 10 miles from Alton to Alresford with the stations of Meadsted and Ropley in between.

This time of year they run two steam engines and old Southern Railway coaches.

This was the engine for my first trip



Those are nice looking engines (except for the buffer plates and link-and-pin couplers ). This one reminds of this model that I've often been tempted to buy. However, I can't justify it among the other models I have, and also I can't find on google a picture of the real thing. It does look somewhat like this one, though.


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

ID: 1806815 · Report as offensive
Profile Uli
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 6 Feb 00
Posts: 10923
Credit: 5,996,015
RAC: 1
Germany
Message 1806859 - Posted: 3 Aug 2016, 20:40:46 UTC

Thank you for sharing Bernie.
Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt
ID: 1806859 · Report as offensive
Ianab
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 11 Jun 08
Posts: 732
Credit: 20,635,586
RAC: 5
New Zealand
Message 1807256 - Posted: 5 Aug 2016, 10:58:42 UTC - in response to Message 1806859.  

On the old steam train subject. This was in town last weekend on an excursion trip from Wellington.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQp2wjJcjlI

ID: 1807256 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1807334 - Posted: 5 Aug 2016, 19:36:21 UTC

And yet another video!!

Now back home with high speed internet and a better computer, I have joined together some of the action from the Mid Hants Railway.

Quite long as I just love the sound of real steam.


https://youtu.be/NQFAqCwI4m8
ID: 1807334 · Report as offensive
Previous · 1 . . . 42 · 43 · 44 · 45 · 46 · 47 · 48 . . . 77 · Next

Message boards : Cafe SETI : The Train Thread 2


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.